Tracking Danger (Military K-9 Unit novella)

By Terri Reed

On the hunt for a killer. An exciting prequel to the Military K-9 Unit series.

Sheriff’s Deputy Serena Evans knows her trusty K-9 partner Ginger can track down the serial killer who is tormenting her Texas town…if only her boss would give her the chance. When they trace him to Jason Hargrove’s land, Serena and Ginger will have to team up with the reclusive rancher in order get their man.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Australia
• Release date: Oct 1, 2018
• ISBN: 9781489273185

Terri Reed

At an early age Terri Reed discovered the wonderful world of fiction and declared she would one day write a book. Now she is fulfilling that dream and enjoys writing for Steeple Hill. She is an active member of both Romance Writers of America and American Christian Fiction Writers. She resides in the Pacific Northwest with her college-sweetheart husband, two wonderful children and an array of critters. When not writing, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, gardening and playing with her dogs.You can write to Terri at P.O. Box 19555 Portland, OR 97280; e-mail her at [e-mail] or visit her online.

Book preview

On the hunt for a killer

An exciting prequel to the Military K-9 Unit series

Sheriff’s Deputy Serena Evans knows her trusty K-9 partner Ginger can track down the serial killer who is tormenting her Texas town...if only her boss would give her the chance. When they trace him to Jason Hargrove’s land, Serena and Ginger will have to team up with the reclusive rancher in order to get their man.

TERRI REED’s romance and romantic suspense novels have appeared on the Publishers Weekly top twenty-five and Nielsen BookScan’s top one hundred lists, and have been featured in USA TODAY, Christian Fiction Magazine and RT Book Reviews. Her books have been finalists for the Romance Writers of America RITA® Award and the National Readers’ Choice Award and finalists three times for the American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award. Contact Terri at terrireed.com or PO Box 19555, Portland, OR 97224.

TRACKING DANGER

Terri Reed

Har_Medicals_2012_Cab_Blk.ai

www.millsandboon.com.au

For my husband, my real-life hero.

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

—Isaiah 41:10

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Epilogue

Dear Reader

Excerpt from Misson to Protect by Terri Reed

ONE

Wait! Dill, Texas, Deputy Sheriff Serena Evans called to her fellow sheriff’s deputy standing on the porch of the one-story cottage. He placed the red rose and white sheet of paper, which no doubt had the words I’m coming for you scrawled in black script, into an evidence bag.

Serena and her K-9 partner, a red-and-white-speckled English springer spaniel named Ginger, hurried up the walkway of the home of the latest target of the serial killer known as the Red Rose Killer. The perpetrator had already claimed five victims.

Thankfully, the latest intended target was still alive. The Dill Sheriff’s Department had a chance to catch the fiend before he made good his threat. And Serena anticipated this time the sheriff would give her and Ginger a chance to prove themselves. That he’d called her in on her day off gave her hope he was finally taking them seriously.

Deputy Sheriff Mike Burnside paused with a quick glance at the open front door. What?

Let Ginger take a smell before you seal the bag, she said.

Mike frowned. Bruno already sniffed them. Referring to the department’s other K-9 officer: Harry and the dog followed the scent to the road. The guy took off in a car, and they lost his scent.

But Ginger won’t lose the scent, Serena told him. She’s trained for this. Serena didn’t add the German shepherd was great at apprehension and protection but he wasn’t a scent hound. Ginger was a hunting dog, trained in wilderness air search.

With another glance at the open door, Mike held out the opened bags. Fine. Hurry.

Sniff, she instructed Ginger. The dog stuck her brown nose in each bag and then let out a woof, clearly ready to get to work.

Evans! Get in here, Sheriff Dave Reinholt yelled from inside the house.

Mike jumped with a grimace even though he wasn’t the one being yelled at and quickly zipped the bags before hustling away with the evidence.

Serena braced herself and led Ginger into the house. Yes, sir. I’m here, sir.

The sheriff, an imposing man in his sixties with white hair and broad shoulders, ate up space in the living room. He gestured to the early twentysomething woman seated on the couch. This is Cindy Willis.

Serena recognized her from the Dill Main Street Diner. I’m sorry you’re going through this, Miss Willis.

Thanks. Mascara-streaked tears ran down the younger woman’s frightened face.

Empathy tightened Serena’s chest. Everyone in town was on edge.

You’re to take Miss Willis to the airport and make sure she gets on her plane safely, the sheriff said. She’s going home to Minnesota.

Serena’s stomach dropped. But, sir. Ginger and I can trail the suspect.

The sheriff lifted one bushy eyebrow. Are you defying an order?

Knowing he’d relish an opportunity to fire her because the mayor had strong-armed him into hiring her. He hadn’t wanted a female in his department. She straightened her shoulders and struggled to keep her irritation in check. No, sir. I’ll do as ordered, sir.

His gaze narrowed. I thought so. Then you can go home. He turned away dismissively and left the house.

A low, simmering anger burned within Serena, but she forced herself to rein in her emotions as she regarded Cindy. We should go, she said gently. The sooner you’re out of town, the better.

Once they were on their way to the airport, Cindy said, I don’t know why I’m a target.

From what Serena knew of the killings there was no pattern. He was picking his targets at random.

I’m glad you’re here, Cindy