Page 25 of Chasing Justice
“What’s this?” he demanded.
“Nothing.”
“This cash is now mine. And these items here are now mine.”
Cody sat up, a look of anger crossing his face. “That’s not fair. I do my share to help you.”
“Yeah? Well, I’m thinking about our future. I’ve worked hard to get this business going. I’ve worked hard to pay off bills from your mother’s illness and to give you a better life than what I had. You can have what you want and not work in godforsaken jobs like I did. But if you use this stuff—” Carson held up the paraphernalia “—you won’t get anywhere. And I’ll kill you before you can kill yourself with this crap.”
The anger on Cody’s face turned to fear. Carson felt satisfied that he had made his point. “Now get dressed and meet us in the bunker in ten. We’ve got things to discuss.”
Carson left the room. He’d kill that kid if he screwed around anymore. He wouldn’t let anyone take him down—not even his own son.
Chapter Sixteen
Maya pulled up, and as she parked at her cabin, Juniper stood and started making tiny circles in the back. Maya had Juniper’s crate inside, ready for her, but she had a bad feeling that Juniper wasn’t going to relax and stay quiet like the doctor ordered. “Okay, okay. If you can behave yourself, maybe in a little bit we can go for a short walk.”
Juniper stopped spinning and sat down.
“Good girl. Let me get you out.” Maya took the leash and climbed out of her vehicle. The previous night a thunderstorm had come through, leaving behind puddles. She stepped over a few and made her way to the door.
“Wait,” she told Juniper as she opened the door and snapped on the leash. Maya tried to help Juniper out of the vehicle, but Juniper was ready to escape. She launched herself past Maya, landing directly in a puddle. Juniper shook and then danced around splashing with joy.
“Great,” Maya muttered. “Heel.”
Instead of heeling, Juniper decided to test her newfound freedom by leaping around in the water. Maya shortened the leash and was about ready to give her a correction when Juniper came up to her, sat for a moment and then jumped up, slapping her paws all over Maya’s shirt.
In a firm tone, Maya asked Juniper to sit. Juniper’s ears drooped and she grudgingly sat.
“Good girl,” Maya said through gritted teeth. “Heel.”
Juniper listened and stayed by Maya’s side as they went into the cabin. In many ways Juniper was still a puppy, but Maya knew that Doug had worked on obedience. She would do the same. Right now, the dog was ready to get out and run around, oblivious to the wounds that needed time to heal.
Juniper air scented, taking in her new surroundings. Then she placed her nose to the floor, sniffing all the different smells.
“You’ll be happy to get back to work, won’t you?” Maya said, knowing it was a silly question. “Here, kennel.”
Maya opened the door to the crate and Juniper tucked her tail, stopping for a moment to look at Maya with an indignant expression. Maya waited her out, and when Juniper realized that Maya was not going to back off, she slunk into the crate. Maya praised her and gave her more treats.
“We’ll try going for a walk in a little bit,” Maya promised.
Juniper’s tail thumped in response. Maya breathed out, realizing that she was holding a lot of tension. There was always stress when a handler was getting to know a new dog. Having a new K-9 partner was a little bit like going on a first date. A good handler knew how to be alpha, but there was also a balance of allowing the dog to be who they were and learning their personality.
Maya wanted a beer, but she knew better. She needed to be on her game for Juniper. Instead, she got herself a cup of coffee and settled down on the couch to look over some of the letters Doug had written. She wanted to know why he hadn’t sent them.
Just as she started to read, Maya heard a cry from the crate. The noise started soft and then escalated. Maya ignored her. She couldn’t get Juniper out while she was still whining. That would only teach her a bad habit.
The whine turned to a yowl, and then Juniper was quiet again. Maya started to read the first letter when howling started along with the sound of paws scratching and clawing. Leaving Juniper in the crate wasn’t going to be a good idea. If Juniper stayed this active, she would open the wounds that needed to heal and delay getting back to work. Maya could get her out and practice a down-stay. That might keep her quiet, work on obedience and help them bond.
Maya waited for Juniper to stop her whining. Once Juniper was silent, Maya strolled over to the crate. Juniper’s tail made a thumping sound. She gave Maya a soulful look, her head down and eyes staring up, pleading to come out.
“Wait,” Maya said. She was pleased when Juniper listened, and Maya managed to snap on the leash. She stepped back and was about ready to give the command for Juniper to come out. Before she could get the words out, seventy pounds of muscle and fur came bounding at her, then started leaping around.
Maya gave Juniper a quick correction, had her kennel back up and then wait until Maya told her she could come out. This time Juniper listened, and Maya praised her.
“Good girl. You’re supposed to stay quiet, remember? Let’s go read some letters. Maybe it will make both of us feel better.”
Maya grabbed the notes from Doug off the couch and had Juniper heel with her over to the kitchen table. She asked Juniper to lie down and the dog responded. Maya gave her another treat and stepped on her leash, making it short enough that it would be difficult for Juniper to get up and walk around. Juniper put her head between her paws and then rolled to one side, content to be with Maya. Maya reached down and scratched Juniper’s belly, realizing how much she was enjoying the company. Usually Maya was alone with her thoughts, which would lead to heightened anxiety. That led to drinking and then being disappointed in herself that she couldn’t control things better. That maybe when Pops told her she wouldn’t be able to handle things, he was right. But Juniper brought out a calm in her—a newfound patience and purpose.
