Suzie had done the right thing. Although their business was thriving, they couldn’t afford to turn away new customers. Even so, Katrina’s nerves frayed a little more at the thought of pinning on a smile and going into corporate mode.
Got to be done. And it might give her a little distance from recent events.
She handed the split leash to Suzie. “Give these guys some water. I’ll be with you as soon as I can.”
When she entered her office, the man waiting for her was looking out of the window that overlooked the training yard. As he turned and smiled, Katrina took a moment to assess him. He was tall with pleasant features, and he stepped forward with a smile.
“Hi. I’m Aidan Hannant. Are you the person I need to talk to about my problem pup?”
“I’m Katrina Perry, owner and lead trainer here at Look Who’s Walking.” She moved to the chair behind her desk, and her visitor took the seat opposite. “How can I help you?”
“I have an eighteen-month-old rottweiler who thinks he’s a puppy. In the last few weeks, he’s eaten my digital camera, my game console, the baseboard from the kitchen cabinets and the legs from two wooden dining chairs.”
Although Katrina laughed, she was slightly bemused. This wasn’t an uncommon problem and Suzie could easily have assisted Aidan. His insistence on waiting for Katrina didn’t make sense, but she’d been in this situation before. Some people just preferred to speak to the boss.
The customer is always right. Even when he’s wrong.
“Okay. Chewing is often a sign of boredom. Give him things that he is allowed to chew, like sterilized stuffed bones and other toys that are too tough for him to destroy. That way, he’ll spend his time on them and won’t attack your belongings. If you can’t trust him when you aren’t home, I would suggest crating him. Rottweilers need plenty of exercise and play that challenges. If you can’t meet those expectations, we offer a pet-walking service—”
His smile widened. “Did you get the message?”
“Sorry?”
“The car was a warning.” He got to his feet, leaning forward as he placed his hands on the desk. “Your heroic rescuer could have saved himself the trouble of grabbing you. I wasn’t going to hit you. Not this time.”
Katrina stared blankly at him. Momentarily, her body shut down as she processed his meaning. When she finally surged to her feet, he was already headed out the door. Stumbling slightly, she ran after him. There was no one in the reception area and all traces of the seemingly nice guy were gone as Aidan turned to face her.
“Don’t think about following me or telling anyone about this.” There was a snarl in his voice. “Stay out of things that don’t concern you.”
He strode out the door and Katrina returned to the office. As she sank into the chair, she was shivering like a dog in a thunderstorm. Those sinister threats were bad enough. Even worse was the knowledge that if she went to the police, there was a chance she wouldn’t be believed.
Yes, she could back up the fact that Aidan Hannant had entered her business. She had security cameras, and the footage would provide the proof she needed. The images of the parking lot should give a clear enough view of his vehicle to provide details of his license plate, so Spencer could verify his identity. While none of those things were proof of the threats he’d just made, they were evidence that the same guy who’d tried to attack her had entered her business premises...always supposing he’d used the same vehicle both times.
So why was her instinct telling her not to give Spencer another reason to write her off as a fantasist? The answer was simple, even if it wasn’t rational. He had doubted her. Katrina didn’t give her trust easily. And she never gave it twice.
Taking a deep breath, she reached into the desk drawer for her water bottle and took a long slug. So she was on her own. Wasn’t that the way it had always been?
Chapter 5
The following afternoon, Spencer assembled his team for a briefing on the sting to flush out Payne Colton’s shooter. They were discussing the final details before they set off for Mustang Valley General Hospital.
“I will be the decoy in the hospital bed that Payne has just vacated.” He refused to let anyone else take the risk. “Kerry and PJ will be in the corridor disguised as orderlies. Lizzie and James, you’ll be hidden in the hospital room. Dane, I need you in Payne’s room.”
“Even if we’re in disguise, won’t the shooter be spooked by a presence in the corridor?” veteran detective PJ Doherty asked.
“We’ve spread the word around that Payne’s condition is improving and that he’s being moved to a room on the second floor. His wife, Genevieve Colton, and Ainsley and Marlowe have approved the plan. The news that he could regain consciousness should be enough to bring the shooter to Mustang V
alley General to check things out and probably to attempt to finish the job. If he sees empty corridors, he’ll get suspicious,” Spencer said. “With you guys pretending to be hospital staff, you can watch Payne’s old room while maintaining an air of normality.”
“What about the other rooms on that floor?” It was Officer Lizzie Manfred who spoke.
“All empty,” Spencer confirmed. “The hospital manager is aware of the situation and has briefed his staff on a need-to-know basis. I’m not prepared to put anyone else in danger.”
As he finished speaking, his desktop telephone buzzed. Since he’d given strict instructions that he wasn’t to be disturbed, Spencer knew it must be important.
“I’m sorry to interrupt your meeting, Sergeant Colton,” the front-desk clerk said. “But I have a man here who insists on speaking to you. He says he has information about the dangerous-driving incident that took place on Mustang Boulevard yesterday afternoon.”
Spencer glanced at the clock. There was another hour before visiting hours started on the unit where Payne was being treated, and he needed to be there with half an hour to spare to set up the sting. He was already cutting things fine...