Page 29 of Mountain Rescue
If TG’s spidey senses were activated, there was a strong possibility the body was Henrietta’s. “Damn. I don’t want to keep things from her, but I think I’ll hold off on this one until the body is identified.” It would break Rachel’s heart to know what was done to her friend, even after death, and he didn’t want to put her through that unnecessarily.
“That’s why I didn’t say anything this morning. I agree that it’s best to hold off telling her until we’re sure. I sent an anonymous message to the local sheriff to check the woman’s dental records against those of Henrietta Hargrove.”
“How long will that take?”
“Typically six to eight weeks, but I can help it along.”
“How?”
TG laughed.
What was he thinking? This was TG. “Never mind. You won’t tell me your secrets, and I don’t want to know them.”
“It would be a good idea to get her a new burner phone since she talked to the police on the one she has. They’re probably not tracing it, but better to be safe. Send me the one she has now, and I’ll have that number travel around the country.”
“You’re really scary, TG.”
“Nah, I’m harmless. By the way, Rachel’s detective appears to be clean.”
“That’s good. Call me if you learn anything else.”
“Will do.”
After disconnecting, Dallas headed to the kennels to check on Bella. She was curled up, nose tucked under her tail, in her usual corner. “Hey, Bella girl.” She lifted her face, and when she didn’t hide again, he considered that a major accomplishment.
He called Jack. “Hey, brother. I’m at the kennels. Still okay if I take Bella to the cabin with me?”
“She’s your dog to work with while you’re here, so your decision.”
“Great. Didn’t want you to come in tomorrow and wonder where she was.”
“Rachel with you?”
“No.” Because he was apparently a kiss and run kind of man. “Talked to TG a few minutes ago,” he said to divert Jack’s attention from asking about Rachel. He told Jack what TG had said, and Jack agreed with not telling Rachel until they knew for sure if it was Henrietta.
“TG also thinks we should give Rachel a new burner since she called the police with the one she has and they’ll have that number. He said to send the one she has to him.”
“Good idea. I’ll pick one up in the morning.”
“Okay, see you then.” Finished with the conversation, he went inside the kennel, and took a seat close to Bella.
“Well, look at you, poking your face out.” Dallas slowly moved his hand to Bella’s nose. It was the first time she’d let him see her face, and he smiled, feeling like he’d won the lottery. She sniffed his fingers. “That’s it, Bella girl, get the smell of me.”
Keeping his voice gentle, he talked to her as he eased his fingers under her chin. Her eyes closed when he scratched her. “You like that, huh?” For a few minutes, he hummed while he roamed his hand over her fur, surprised that she was letting him.
“So, Bella, I have a confession to make. I kissed a girl, then I told her I was sorry. That was a lie. I wasn’t at all sorry. I told her it wouldn’t happen again. That might be another lie.”
That damn kiss. He’d never tasted anything sweeter, and now he was left with a craving he wasn’t sure he’d ever satisfy if he kept his word to her. He’d had to leave to keep from kissing her again.
“What would you do, Bella?” She flicked her tail once. He slid closer to her, and his heart melted for this abused dog when she put her chin on his knee. “Starting to trust me, hmm?” Another halfhearted tail wag. “I wonder what you’d think of Rachel. She’s an empath. That means she feels people’s emotions, but she can’t feel me.”
He was relieved that Rachel couldn’t. He agreed with her that it was interesting she couldn’t, but he didn’t want anyone tofeelhis pain and despair, especially her.
“The funny thing, if she hadn’t tried to bash my brain in with a tree branch, I don’t think I would have paid much attention to her. I was... I am in a bad place, and I would have barely tolerated having her as a roommate. There’s just something about a pretty woman who tries to brain you that catches your attention.” The sight of her in those purple panties might have had something to do with it, too. He needed to get off this floor.
“My ass is growing numb sitting on this concrete, Bella girl. How would you feel about breaking out of this joint?”
Dallas pulled to a stop in front of the cabin. It had taken a lot of coaxing and patience to get Bella in the Jeep. She’d curled into a tight ball in the passenger seat, and her too thin body had shook when he’d started the engine. He’d discovered that as long as he kept his hand on her, she’d calm down. If he removed it, she would start shaking again, so he’d driven home with one hand on the steering wheel and one on her.
