Page 37 of Pretty Broken Dolls
Cisco got in on the action, circling Katie several times.
They laughed.
“Where is Chad?”
“Working.”
“Well, he’s going to flip when he sees you walk down the aisle.”
* * *
After her friends had left, Katie went to bed almost immediately even though it was earlier than her normal bedtime. She was exhausted from the events of the day and her body and mind basically shut down. Cisco felt her weakness and snuggled in next to her. They both fell fast asleep.
Katie tossed and turned. Her sleep was restless, her dreams disturbing. It wasn’t uncommon for her to dream about her past and the battlefield, and sometimes the victims in her cold cases appeared to reach out to her in a supernatural way—but tonight was different. It was as if someone or something was trying to warn her—pulling at her, struggling to convince her. She felt the heavy burden of premonition that something bad was going to happen.
Chapter Thirteen
Thursday 0745 hours
Katie looked forward to visiting the military dog training facility in Sacramento. It was where she had received her preliminary training for six weeks before she traveled to Afghanistan for the final advanced training with Cisco. To Katie’s surprise, Agent Campbell came through for them and they were granted entry to view the facility and to speak with Sergeant Anthony Serrano. Katie drove there with purpose and high expectations of what they might uncover. Looking through most of the flash drive yesterday, it was becoming clearer that the K9 angle took center stage. That realization made the motive of the killer hit close to home for her.
“Thinking about your training?” said McGaven, interrupting her thoughts.
“It seems like such a long time ago. So many things have happened since then. But the training was memorable.”
“Good or bad?”
“Mostly good. Everything turned out great, of course, but it was tough—actually, very tough at times. It would have been easy to wash out.”
“I wonder if our vics had the same experience?”
Taking a turn off the freeway, Katie sped up to make several traffic lights. “Everyone was on the same page on how demanding it was, but just at different levels of training.”
She turned down a road where a sign read: “Military Training Area.” She slowed the sedan and drove into the civilian entrance where there was a booth and a heavy gate. Signs were posted everywhere stating, “Warning: No Admittance and Only Military Personnel Beyond this Point.” Nothing could be seen of the facility—not the buildings, nor the dog-training areas. It was like a prison institution, with tall, impenetrable walls.
“I feel like I’m somewhere I shouldn’t be,” said McGaven as he searched the area.
“Most people don’t know that dog training is performed here.”
Katie pulled up to the security booth as a military police officer gestured for her to stop.
She put down her window. “I’m Detective Katie Scott from the PV Sheriff’s Department. We have an appointment with Sergeant Serrano.” She handed the officer her badge identification along with McGaven’s. He disappeared for several minutes before returning and giving Katie back the IDs.
“Here are your ID passes,” he said, handing her two laminated visitor passes. “Be sure to check your weapons and leave them in the trunk before entering the facility. Go straight and make the second right. Follow the signs for the K9 training until you reach the main office.”
“Thank you.”
He nodded. “Ma’am.”
The gate lifted and Katie slowly drove through and followed the instructions.
As she made the second right and headed toward the K9 training area, they could see chain-link fencing with razor wire and several large buildings and kennel areas. She followed the signs and everything became familiar to her. She remembered arriving by bus with the other recruits. It was an exciting time and she would never forget the first time she met Cisco.
* * *
She walked through the long line of kennels, the walls ringing with the echo of barking dogs, jumping and pawing their doors on both sides. There were many German and Czech shepherds and Belgian Malinois breeds. An extra-loud banging at the end of the row piqued Katie’s curiosity and she moved closer. She saw a dark face staring back at her when she approached. A black face with yellow wolf eyes and an expression of pure drive and curiosity gazed back at her. The dog barked and banged his paw against the door. She couldn’t keep her eyes away from him as she slowly put her hand against the kennel door. Cisco gently licked her palm. At that moment, she knew he was the dog she wanted to train and to ultimately become her partner.
“I don’t think you want him. He’s washed out with two handlers,” said the trainer. “Not sure what we’re going to do with him.”
