Page 16 of Lock ’N’ Load

“Will do.”

Buck turned to leave, pausing. “You really do look like shit. Take off as soon as the meeting’s over. I’ll get someone else to cover the rest of your double.”

“Thanks, boss.” He gave Buck a grateful look. With several of the other security officers on vacation, he’d been working plenty of double shifts. Normally, that didn’t bother him, but it wasn’t even eight thirty, and he was already dead on his feet.

Not only did he like working for Buck, but the hours at the CIA were a boatload better than they’d been at his former employer. Usually, that was. Last night had been an exception.

After six years as a military K-9 officer overseas, the Alexandria PD had picked him right up after he’d left the Marines. But after five years, a spot on the PD’s K-9 squad had never materialized. And his heart was always with the K-9s. And so he’d moved on.

The other good thing about working for the CIA was his commute, which was now a fraction of what it used to be. Less time on the road meant more time working before and after-hours at his place. Jerry’s Place. His charity organization for kids and canines was a work in progress, and he still had a shitload more to do before it was up and running.

A quick glance at his watch told him it was only five minutes since the last time he’d checked it. As soon as the weekly security meeting was over, he’d get in a quick workout at the gym, then take Buck up on his offer and head home early.

After downing the last of his coffee, Matt headed to the printer to get the police report Jake had emailed over. On the way back to his desk, he poured himself another cup and sat at his desk to give the report a quick scan.

Beside him, Sheba lounged in her bed, her muzzle between her legs, her eyes half closed and wearing an expression of utter contentment. It always amazed him how happy she was just to be near him.

Jake’s report was thorough, although there hadn’t been much to report on. Jake had even sent uniforms back into the woods behind the Moose early this morning to look for evidence, but there’d been none. The ground was so dry, they hadn’t even found any shoe prints.

What he read still bugged him, more than it had last night. Sure, some crimes lacked motive, but his cop instincts were buzzing. Something about last night seemed off.

Is it because Trista is so petite and helpless?

He doubted she had the strength to hurt a fly. When she’d lain there in his arms, unconscious, she’d seemed so fragile. That fucker had meant to hurt her, if not kill her. He didn’t want to think about what would have happened if he and Sheba hadn’t been there. When he’d witnessed her being dragged into the woods, he’d been out for blood. And when he’d pounded his fist into the guy’s face, it had felt good. Damn good, because he’d wanted to kill him.

Matt looked at the crumpled report in his fisted hand. Just thinking about what a close call she’d had and how her attacker had escaped got him pissed off all over again. He hated seeing innocent people get hurt, and he’d do everything in his power to help someone in need.

Trista had needed him, and he’d been there for her. That was what being a cop was all about. Helping people. It was something he needed to do. Had to do. He had a lot to make up for in his life. He couldn’t change what he’d done all those years ago, but he intended to spend the rest of his life trying to be a better person.

“Hey, Matt. Heard you had some fun last night.”

Olga Miller, one of the other K-9 officers in his unit, leaned down to pet Sheba, who rolled onto her side, exposing her belly for Olga to scratch.

“I wouldn’t call it fun, exactly.” Grabbing a paper clip from his drawer, he attached the reports together, intending to staple them to Trista’s incident report.

“Rescuing a damsel in distress?” She placed her hand over her heart and let out an exaggerated sigh. “If I wasn’t married to the love of my life, you’d be at the top of my list of the most manly men to get rescued by.”

“Lucky me.” He narrowed his eyes, sending her a warning look.

After giving Sheba another scratch, she snickered and stood. “See you in the meeting, Stud.”

“Wiseass,” he muttered, then grinned. Secretly, Olga was one of his favorite people. She was like the sister he never had. Well, the sister he hadn’t talked to in years.

Grabbing a pad, he rose and went to the main office to check again for Trista’s incident report. The office’s in-box was empty, so he began searching all the other boxes on the counter, in case it got misfiled.

“Can I help you find something, Matt?”

Matt turned to find Ava, the security division’s administrative assistant, who was watching him from the doorway.

“Yeah.” He turned back to flip through some of the other loose documents on the counter. “I’m looking for Trista Gold’s incident report.”

“No one’s dropped off any incident reports today.” Ava began tidying up the mess Matt had just made. “Except for you, that is. I read your report. What you did last night was so heroic. Like something out of a movie. A knight in shining armor rescuing a damsel in distress.”

Matt froze as he reached for the top in-box, then turned to glare down at Ava. “You’ve been talking to Olga.”

“Yesss.” She batted her eyelashes and sighed.

“Christ,” he mumbled. “Just let me know if you find it.”