Page 20 of K-9 Confidential

The dog launched off his back legs and shot into the trees.

“These woods spill out onto barren desert in less than a quarter mile.” Henry Acker called back over his shoulder. “My guess, they’re trying to get her out of Vaughn from there by ATV or vehicle. The fire was a distraction.”

And a damn good one at that. If what Granger believed about Henry Acker was true and the bastard had gotten into bed with a drug cartel,Sangre por Sangrehad to know the kind of manpower and firepower Acker’s Army carried. Threatening the town they’d die to protect was the only way to take the focus off the cartel’s real intentions: getting to Charlie.

“Your daughter Erin.” They moved by the light of the fire at their backs. Both in line as they followed after Zeus. “When the cartel couldn’t find Charlie, they came for her, didn’t they? They knew she’d been involved in the pipeline explosion, that she had her own expertise from the attack.”

Henry Acker pushed the pace, refusing to confirm Granger’s theory. “We’re almost there. Be ready.”

Battle-ready tension filtered down Granger’s spine.

The trees were thinning up ahead. They broke through the border.

A pair of headlights skimmed across the desert.

Acker and the two soldiers behind them opened fire on the vehicle. Metallic pings sparked off the side of the armored SUV.

Return fire pulverized the dirt at their feet.

Granger grabbed for the old man and hauled him out of the way of the oncoming bullets. He threw Acker behind one of the last trees for cover.

“What the hell are you doing? My daughter is in there.” Acker raised his rifle and got off another two rounds, but his rifle wouldn’t be strong enough to breach through that armor.

Two more sets of headlights flared to life. Engines rumbled across the desert floor and exposed a game of hide-and-seek. Damn it. Charlie could be in any of one the SUVs. “I’m saving your life, Acker.Sangre por Sangreonly moves in packs, and they don’t travel light. Those vehicles are armored. You’ll never get through.”

“So you’re just going to let them get away.” Henry Acker took another shot from behind the tree.

“Hell, no.” Granger pulled his cell phone from his pocket as all three SUV’s shot into the dark unknown of the desert. A single bar of service lit up the screen. It was enough. He dialed in to Socorro. The line connected. “Scarlett, I need my SUV.”

“Narrowing down your location.” Static punctured through each of Socorro’s security expert’s words. “Got you. Sending it your way. ETA two minutes. Just enough time for you to tell me what the hell is going on. I can see the fire from here.”

“No time to explain.” Two minutes. Socorro was in route. They’d responded to Zeus’s alert. Damn it.Sangre por Sangrewas already moving at full speed. They didn’t have that kind of time. “Redirect your approach on my position to intercept three hostile vehicles with a hostage inside.”

“You got it.” Scarlett ended the call just as a fourth pair of headlights cut into Granger’s peripheral vision.

“Come on, old man.” He pulled Acker out from the cover of the trees. The SUV pulled to a stop ten feet ahead of them, and Granger wrenched the driver’s side door open. “Get in.”

Henry Acker collapsed into the passenger seat, his weapon folded across his lap, jaw slack. “Had I known this thing could drive itself, I would’ve had the boys strip it for parts.”

Granger threw the SUV into gear, chasing after three pairs of distinct brake lights a mile ahead. Momentum pinned him to his seat as they sped across the desert floor. “It’s only accessible through Socorro’s security system. Besides, I think you got enough of a donation from me out of the cargo area.”

“And Acker’s Army thanks you kindly.” Acker turned in his seat as two more sets of headlights filtered in through the back window. “Those your people?”

“They’re not shooting at us, so I think it’s safe to believe they’re here to help.” He checked the rearview mirror, hit the radio tied into his steering wheel and floored the accelerator. He wasn’t going to screw this up. Not like he had the night of the Alamo pipeline attack. Charlie was coming home safe. “Scarlett, you take the right. I’ve got the center. Tell whoever’s with you to take the left.”

“You got it.” The SUVs on his tail maneuvered into position and raced ahead. Within seconds, each vehicle had cut off theSangre por Sangrecaravan and brought them to a halt.

“Stay in the vehicle.” Granger pulled a weapon from underneath the seat, happy to know Acker’s Army wasn’t all that adept at searching for weapons.

“Like hell I am.” Acker shouldered out of the SUV and hit the ground, rifle raised as both Scarlett and another Socorro operative took theSangre por Sangredrivers out of their vehicles.

“Clear,” Scarlett said. Two Dobermans circled the driver on the ground with his hands on the back of his head.

“Clear.” Recognition flared as Granger identified Socorro’s forward scout, Cash Meyers, and his K9, Bear. “I’ve got nothing.”

Granger approached the third vehicle. He reached for the vehicle’s handle and nearly ripped the door off its hinges. Pulling the driver from behind the steering wheel, he planted the cartel soldier on the ground. “Where is she?”

Scarlett rushed to search the back of the third vehicle, lowering her weapon. “Granger… She’s not here.”

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