Page 36 of Colorado K-9 Rescue
Mckenna had herself convinced she was paranoid when she arrived at her back door. The porch overlooked a beautiful view of mountain peaks. They were coming into her favorite time of year when the aspen trees changed to a gorgeous golden color and the hills were dotted with groves of yellow and red among the dark green of the evergreens. Mckenna was about ready to turn around when something caught her eye.
Some sort of book was open on her porch table. There were objects on top of it. Mocha stepped in front of her again, his hackles raised. She opened the back door, and the screen door gave a groan as she stepped out onto the porch, hands shaking and heart racing.
A low growl rumbled in Mocha’s throat.
Mckenna forced herself to go over to the table, and when she stepped closer, she started crying. Fear coursed through her. The book was her journal. No one knew about her journal. Not even Cassidy or her therapist. Her therapist had suggested that she keep one to help process her trauma, but she’d never told anyone that she was doing it. Normally, it was tucked into the top drawer of her bedside table.
As she took another step closer, the old porch creaked. Mocha stayed in front of her and sniffed the journal, then he started growling.
She should run. Get out of here. Why was she still standing there? But fear paralyzed her. How often had she told victims about fight-or-flight? Now her feet were stuck in place. She wanted to see what was left on the journal.
Regret immediately flowed through her.
Close enough now to the table, Mckenna could see the object. A black diamond tennis bracelet in sterling silver. Her mother had given it to her for her sixteenth birthday. She’d been devastated that she lost it when she’d been abducted, buther mother kept telling Mckenna she didn’t care. It was more important to have Mckenna back. Bracelets could be replaced.
Run, Mckenna kept telling herself.Get out of here. He could be watching you. How dare he ruin your safe place?
Then she saw the message. There was a scribble next to the bracelet that she could barely read. Mckenna lightly touched the journal, tipping it toward her. The words were hard to read, but Mckenna was able to decipher his handwriting and the message.
I’m so disappointed. I didn’t release you so you could fall in love with an FBI agent. Remember, I love the game of catch and release. What made you think that you wouldn’t be caught again? You were the best. There’s no one else like you. I know, I’ve tried out plenty.
Now her flight instincts kicked in. Was he in the house? In the yard? Waiting to grab her? She turned and ran back inside, Mocha by her side. He seemed scared too. Mckenna grabbed her keys and phone, then the pair sprinted out to her car.
“Screw your crate,” Mckenna said to Mocha. Getting him in his travel crate would only give someone time to grab her. She opened the driver-side door and Mocha hopped in. Mckenna waited for him to go to the passenger’s seat and then she jumped in the driver’s seat. She locked the doors and attempted to put her keys in the ignition, but her hands shook so violently she was having a tough time starting the car. Next car would have a key fob. That would be a much quicker getaway.
She managed to start the car and drove down the street to a coffee shop near a gas station. It was a busy area with tourists stopping to fill up and get their caffeine fix for the mountain drive ahead of them.
Her whole body shook as Mckenna managed to unlock her cell phone and dial 911.
CHAPTER 23
Mckenna couldn’t even remember what she said. It was like an out-of-body experience as hysteria took over. The operator was saying something in a calm tone about staying on the line. Officers were on their way, but Mckenna didn’t hear a word. The dispatcher was only adding to her panic. She knew they were trained to keep her on the line, but Mckenna hung up. She needed quiet.
Mocha climbed over the center console and flopped on her lap while licking her face. She hugged him tightly, his soft black fur up against her cheek.
“You’re such a good boy. You knew something was wrong. We should have left then. I’m sorry, boy. I need to do a better job of listening to you.”
Holding Mocha, Mckenna could feel her heart rate slow a bit, some of the frenzy leaving her body. As she calmed down, clearer thinking came back, and she pulled up her security camera through her phone app.I hope I have a clear shot of this person. I can’t wait to see who it is.Would it be Toby? Rex? Someone else? When the footage came up, disappointment hit. Somehow the person had seen the camera or knew about it. The intruder was an adult male, but he had his face covered and made sure to keep his back to the device.So much for security cameras helping.
She took deep breaths and saw that 911 was calling her back, but she didn’t know that person. She needed to talk with someone she knew. A person who understood her. Mckennarejected the call from the dispatcher and opened the contacts to Cassidy’s number.
But she didn’t want to talk to her sister either. Cassidy meant well but she was so overprotective that it felt like Mckenna was being smothered by her older sister. There was someone who listened to her, though. Who understood her.
Evan.
Yes, he’d made her mad, but she’d overreacted too. She had to admit that he was the one person who made her feel safe but allowed her to be herself at the same time. She wanted him now. Mckenna dialed his number, listening to it ring.Please answer, please.He’d been going to find Toby and Rex and she didn’t know if he’d have cell signal up at their house.
“Pick up. Please answer,” she said out loud. Just when Mckenna thought the call would go to voice mail, Evan answered. He sounded a little out of breath.
“Mckenna? Are you okay?”
Hearing his voice and his concern made her start crying again. “No. I’m not.”
“What’s going on?”
Mckenna filled Evan in about Mocha, the journal and her bracelet.
“Where are you now?” Evan asked.
