Colton K-9 Cop. Addison Fox

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      She bent, her gaze on Alex as her hands went to cup the Lab’s head and ears. Donovan didn’t miss how they trembled or what a calming effect Alex seemed to have on her as she petted that soft expanse of fur. “You grew just as big as I knew you would. But I hope you’ve learned some restraint around plastic toys.”

      “Grudgingly.” Donovan smiled when she glanced back up at him, pleased that she’d remembered them. “We nearly had a repeat incident with a few Barbie high heels but I managed to recover them before he swallowed them.”

      “He’s a little thief.”

      “One who fortunately matured out of the impulse.”

      She stood back upright but kept a slightly less shaky hand on Alex’s head. “You’re here because of this?”

      “I was in town on another assignment today and hadn’t left yet. Are you okay?” The assignment was a bit of a stretch but somehow, saying he had to visit his mother or risk her wrath didn’t seem like the most comforting comment.

      “I’m fine. Gus looked at me quickly and I don’t feel hurt other than the scrapes. Shaken and sort of wobbly, but nothing hurts too bad or feels broken.”

      “How close were you to the car?”

      “I’d gotten in and realized I hadn’t closed the trunk. I was behind the car when it just—” She broke off, the disbelief still clear in her eyes. “When it just exploded.”

      “We’re going to take a look at it but first I need Alex to sniff the rest of the cars that are still here so we can get these people out of here. Can you wait for me?”

      “Where else am I going to go?”

      For reasons Donovan couldn’t explain, he sensed there was something more in her comment. Something that went well beyond a car bomb or the shaky aftereffects of surviving a crime.

      Something terrible had taken the light out of her beautiful gray eyes.

      And he was determined to find out why.