With her dogs—who were both fully restored to health—safely deposited at the training center, they were headed toward the police station with Boris in his compartment at the back of Spencer’s vehicle.
“With luck, Kerry will have discovered where Latimer is from,” Spencer said. “She should also have found out if he has a criminal record.”
“If Rusty is right about him selling drugs, it doesn’t sound like the sort of thing he just started recently.” Katrina thought again about Eliza, and how easy it would have been for her to get drawn back into that lifestyle. Her sister was vulnerable and a man like Latimer would be able to easily persuade her to do what he wanted.
“Latimer hasn’t been around Mustang Valley for long.” Spencer pulled into the parking lot at the MVPD building. “He’s not known to us here as a drug dealer, but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t been arrested in another area.”
“He could still be trouble and not have a criminal record,” Katrina pointed out.
“Unfortunately, that’s true. If he’s like Aidan Hannant and has slipped beneath the law-enforcement radar, there’s not much we can do about it.”
They left the vehicle, after having released Boris. Skirting around the building, Spencer took his canine partner to his training session before returning to the front entrance. In the lobby, Katrina recalled their first meeting with a shudder. She’d flown through the door, almost knocking him off his feet, yet he’d treated her with courtesy and respect. Was it any wonder he’d questioned her reliability when she’d been so close to the edge of her control?
When they reached Spencer’s office, he used the internal telephone system to contact his colleague, Kerry. When she arrived, she was carrying a file of papers and she wore a harassed expression.
“I still can’t find anything on Micheline Anderson or Leigh Dennings,” she said. “I think we have to accept that they are who they say they are. Hardworking, dedicated to the good of the community, both of them willing to go the extra mile to help those less fortunate than themselves.”
“When did Micheline found the Affirmation Alliance Group?” Spencer asked.
“Forty years ago. She’s a gifted self-help guru and healer, who quickly built up a following and grew the AAG into a thriving business.” Kerry consulted her notes. “Leigh is twenty-six. She’s worked for the group for a few years and appears to be devoted to Micheline. Using her looks to her advantage, her role appears to be to charm new males into becoming members and stop any others from drifting.”
“And Kenyon Latimer?” Spencer asked.
“He’s a different story.” Kerry’s expression changed to one of distaste. “He was arrested for possession of heroin last year in Tucson—his hometown—and is a small-time troublemaker. He has a record of low-level offenses up and down Arizona, dating back to the age of eighteen. I haven’t started on out-of-state records yet.”
“Is there any information on my sister’s whereabouts?” Katrina asked. She didn’t hold out much hope but figured it was always worth asking.
“I’m sorry,” Kerry said. “We don’t have anything more to report.”
“I’m going to check my messages, then Chief Barco has given me permission to spend the rest of the day working from Katrina’s office,” Spencer told Kerry. “You can reach me there if you need me. I’ll be back to collect Boris after lunch.”
As they left, Katrina turned to him. Nothing in what she’d heard gave her any hope for her sister. If anything, her spirits were lower than ever.
“If Eliza got mixed up with Latimer, she didn’t stand a chance.”
Spencer hooked an arm around her shoulders, drawing her into a quick hug. “We still haven’t established any connection between them.”
“But we both know you will.”
He didn’t answer and that was all the confirmation she needed.
* * *
That evening, they walked the dogs in the park.
“They get along,” Spencer said as the three canines snuffled along the ground together, excitedly chasing the same scents.
“That’s good, isn’t it?” Katrina asked. “I mean, if we liked each other but our dogs hated each other, it wouldn’t make for an easy life.”
He didn’t answer and she wondered if she’d said too much. Did he think she was pushing him into an admission that they had a future? Or was she just overthinking, as usual?
Holly brought her a stick, dropping it at her feet and wagging her tail as she invited her to throw it and Katrina focused on the game. She could overthink anytime.
When they left the park, Spencer suggested ordering pizza, then he checked his cell and groaned. “I’d completely forgotten.”
“Hot date?” she teased.
“Sibling date. I’m supposed to be meeting my brother and sister at Mustang Valley Steak and Seafood in ten minutes.”