Page 77 of Boxed In

The alley was clear, and he ushered Olivia across. But before they reached the other side, a cop car pulled into view.

Olivia made a strangled sound. Luke kept his hand firmly on her, leading her into the backyard opposite his friend’s house.

Immediately, a large Doberman started barking.

Luke thrust the box into Olivia’s hands. As the dog came toward him, snapping and snarling, he went down on his haunches.

“Good boy. I know you’re defending your property. Good boy.”

The dog stopped snarling and looked at him with dark eyes. Luke held out his hand, letting the animal sniff him.

“Good boy,” he repeated.

The dog made a chuffing sound, and Luke patted him on the head. He’d always been good with animals. He had the feeling that the big Z had the same talent.

Olivia had hung back.

“Come on,” he murmured to her, and she made a wide circle around the large animal. They had almost reached the end of the yard near the house when a powerful flashlight beam illuminated in the back.

“Police. Halt.”

In response to the menacing voice, the Doberman rushed to the back fence and started barking again, then snapped menacingly at the officer, who took a quick step back.

“Good dog,” Luke whispered.

Taking advantage of the diversion, he hurried to the gate at the other end of the yard, and they slipped between the houses, then across the street and through the next backyard.

Another police siren sounded in the distance.

“They’re all over the place.” She turned toward Luke. “We've done all we can by ourselves.”

“You have a suggestion?”

“Yes. Call Decorah Security. They’re probably looking for you.”

He stopped talking aloud, switching to an internal debate. Luke versus the warrior. Zabastian didn’t want to trust anyone. Luke argued that they were running out of options. And the longer they stayed on the street, the more likely that they’d end up in a jail cell. And if they got arrested, the cops would take away the box.

I will kill them before I give up the box, Zabastian said.

You can’t kill them. They’re the authorities.

I bow only to the authority of the Master of the Moon.

You’re not going to get to him unless you let me handle this. Where are you going to get a computer to get that e-mail? Are you going to break into another house?

Luke’s vision had turned inward. He looked up to see Olivia watching him.

She kept her gaze fixed on him. “Remember the password that got you into the Moon Priest’s Web site?”

He blinked.

“Decorah43. Don’t you think that might be a sign?”

“Um. . .” He huffed out a breath. “Okay, we can call them.”

“Does Zabastian promise not to hurt anybody?”

“Yes,” Luke snapped, hoping it was true.

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