Page 28 of No Bones About It

She’d seen wire cages, although she hadn’t seen dogs in them. Lights were always on. A tall barbed wired fence surrounded the area. Security cameras blinked at the top of the posts.

“I’ve heard the dogs a few times, but I’ve rarely caught glimpses.Mead appears to have surrounded the dogs and the fighting ring with manmade structures, so no one can see much without trespassing or tripping his security alerts.”

“What’s your plan for tonight?”

She blew out a soft breath. “I want to approach from the north because I haven’t been on that side yet. I’m hoping to see a way to rescue the dogs or at least find enough information to go to the authorities.”

At least she wasn’t planning to infiltrate the place on her own. “These people are dangerous. Some of the worst of the worst.”

She nodded. “That’s why we have to stop them.”

Garrett managed a smile at that. “You’re a hell of a woman, Kimi Twinishe.”

She choked out a laugh and shook her head. “I’m glad you’re wearing hiking boots. I don’t want to park too close to the compound.”

He accepted her change of topic, but he had plans for later to show her just how amazing she was. Few people would put so much effort into helping animals. The risks she took were huge, but he imagined she saw them as necessary.

He wished he had some of the gear they used in the military for nighttime missions. Night-vision goggles would be the most useful. He wondered if Troy could scrounge up a pair. Garrett hadn’t checked out Midnight Security yet, but he’d bet he could pick up some equipment through them, too.

Which led to the question. “Have you talked to Marcus about this? Or any of the people involved with Midnight Security?”

Her eyes widened. “No. And you can’t either. If I get into trouble, it’s just me. Although now it’s you too.” She bit her bottom lip and shot him a worried glance.

Garrett had always worked as a team member in the military. He’d been going it alone since then and hadn’t felt fulfilled. Now, he was part of the community, part of a team with Kimi, part of a business venture with his friends. Part of an odd little town. He liked it all and wasn’t about to give it up. It terrified him to think about Kimi going on all these covert missions alone. “We’re surrounded by amazing people. Creative thinkers who have exceptional skill sets.”

Kimi followed the GPS instructions to turn off the main road and onto a secondary road that wasn’t well maintained. She reduced her speed and kept her eyes on the road. “I called the FBI when I first heard rumors about a dog-fighting ring. They have open files on Mead and the crime organization he works with. The problem is they can’t get onto his property without just cause. They need something concrete to act on, and they don’t have it. I want to get that for them. That’s what I need, some kind of proof.”

She sighed as the GPS showed her another turn. Kimi turned the truck and backed onto the road, which was more path than street. After she turned off the vehicle, she turned to him. “Marcus doesn’t have jurisdiction in New Hampshire, but the FBI knows I’m digging. Someone there sends me occasional anonymous tips. That’s how I found this location. They sent me the coordinates.”

“Who is it?”

She shrugged. “No idea. But everything they’ve sent me has panned out. You ready?”

No. He had so many questions. So many more things to consider. But this wasn’t the best time or place. He’d ask them once they were safely back on their own properties.

Instead of saying any of that, Garrett sighed and nodded. Once they slipped out of the truck, they coordinated the closing of the doors, keeping the noise as low as possible.

Kimi dimmed the brightness on her phone and showed him the map and the path she proposed to follow.

Then she pocketed the phone and strode into the bush, leaving him to follow.

Part of Kimi’s brain was sad and frustrated that Garrett had jumped into her truck earlier that night. The dog-fighting ring would be incredibly difficult for him to face. She didn’t think he’d ever resolved his feelings over Shaggy’s death, and being confronted with this operation had to carve deep into his heart.

She was also worried. Two people were more difficult to hide. Twopeople meant twice the chance of being spotted. And it would be her fault if anything happened to Garrett.

The guilt almost had her turning around, but she needed to do this. Needed to help those poor dogs. And she had to admit that while a portion of her brain wished she walked through these woods alone, most of her was thrilled to have Garrett with her.

It was selfish, but she was happy she wasn’t alone in caring about the dogs. Glad she wasn’t alone on this mission. Having Garrett with her might mean double the chance of being spotted, but with his training and experience, maybe it was the opposite. He certainly wouldn’t be the one to alert Mead’s men that they were surveilling them.

Kimi was far more likely to be the one to screw up. And if she made a mistake that hurt Garrett, she wasn’t sure she could forgive herself.

Her thoughts dragged her feet to a halt. Garrett was at her side immediately. His lips grazed her ear, and he spoke directly into it. Not in a whisper because those carried, but with his voice so low, she barely heard it. “What’s wrong?”

She grabbed his hand and squeezed it. When he leaned down, she copied the way he’d spoken to her. “I think we should turn around.”

“Why?”

“I have a bad feeling. What if you get hurt because of me?”

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