Payback (The Canine Handler Book 1) (11 page)

“So you’re Sarah,” he said. He smiled at her and she returned the smile.

Sarah wasn’t expecting her name to bring recognition from someone she didn’t know. It surprised her. Taking a deep breath to control rising anxiety she returned the exchange. “Am I on the wanted list?” she laughed.

“Oh no,” the officer replied with a grin. “Seems a few people are pretty impressed with you and your dogs.”

“Is that a fact?”

“Yes, it is. The lieutenant was very happy with the job and support your team provided yesterday.”

“That’s nice to hear. Good feedback’s always welcome,” Kellee piped in. “Our team trains and works diligently to make sure we can provide a reliable resource.” Sarah could tell Kellee was trying to take some of the pressure off of her. Her friend knew she didn’t always like being in the spotlight.

“Well, we really appreciate you joining the efforts again today.”

“Not a problem. Glad we can help out.” Sarah handed over her ID so the officer could check her in as they continued their conversation.

“I believe the lieutenant is waiting on you guys. When we’re done here, go ahead in the command center and check in with her.”

“Okay, appreciate your help.” Sarah tucked her ID back in the case that hung around her neck on the lanyard. She waited for Kellee to finish up and they headed to the door at the end of the command unit.

Although Sarah knew she and her dogs were ready for today’s search, she still had apprehensions left over from the previous day and the water search. She was worried her nervousness would show through or she would say something stupid in front of the lieutenant.
Chill out
, she told herself.
We’ll get through this fine
.
We’re all human
. She didn’t understand where all the angst was coming from. Kellee opened the door and both women entered the unit.

The moment Sarah and Kellee entered the state police command unit, they were impressed. The hulking RV had been a recent purchase—over $500,000 of federal money spent upgrading to a newer, higher tech model. Not as expensive as many other states, but it was still a large chunk of money.

This unit was much more glamorous than the smaller, older county unit they’d used for yesterday’s water search. It sported the most up-to-date computers, communication and internet systems available, as well a full kitchen and bathroom. They were tied into the state’s computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system which allowed search management easy access to all databases.

Kellee looked at Sarah and mouthed, “Wow.”

Sarah nodded her head.
Overkill,
she thought.
This place is nicer than my two-bedroom shack.

The unit was pulsating with commotion. It felt like it was its own entity possessing private energy. A ground-pound team stood near the front receiving a briefing on their search assignment. Communications buzzed with the sound of radio transmissions from teams just heading out or starting their task.

On one side of the command center, a huge area map covered most of the wall. A trooper was writing “LKP,” Last Known Point, in red letters on the spot where the car had been found. There was a red circle encompassing the immediate search area with the acronym “RoW” written just outside of it. The acronym stood for Rest of the World, the portion outside of the immediate search area. Their efforts would be concentrated within the red circle. Eventually, if the subject was not found within that immediate search area, sectors within the RoW would be the next step.
We will be searching somewhere in that area,
Sarah thought as she made a quick study of the map.

Everyone had a job to do and was acting on it. No one was standing around idle. All the fervor sent Sarah’s energy level up another degree.

“Well good morning, ladies. Didn’t think we would be meeting again like this so soon,” Lieutenant Langenberg greeted them.

“Good morning,” Sarah and Kellee returned in unison.

“Glad we could help out again,” Kellee added.

“Are your dogs up for a search again so soon?” the lieutenant asked. “Isn’t this tough on them mentally and physically?”

“They’re ready and waiting. They would be here without me if they didn’t need a chauffeur,” Sarah laughed. “It’s really not that tough on them. Since we split the search tasks up yesterday, Sam and Gunner had plenty of downtime. It will be more physical for them today, running through the woods, but it will help use up some of their excessive energy. Maybe they’ll sleep well tonight,” Sarah added.

“The dogs are pretty physically fit. We wouldn’t deploy with them again if it jeopardized or compromised their health and well-being,” Kellee stated.

“Okay, I just wanted to make sure. You guys did a fantastic job yesterday. My team and I were pleased with the work your organization provided—and the level of professionalism.”

Sarah looked up and met Kellee’s gaze. Both women smiled. The weight of what the lieutenant was saying was not lost on them. Kellee nodded in response.

“Thank you, we appreciate the opportunity to help out and utilize all of our training,” Kellee stated.

“It’s refreshing to work with ‘drama free’ teams as well. Since we’re treating this area as a potential crime scene, we expect that same work ethic today. We don’t know if today’s subject is in any way tied to what we found yesterday, but we don’t know that he’s not either.”

The lieutenant pointed to the table as she spoke. Sarah and Kellee obliged, heading to the desk full of paperwork and maps. They sat down across from each other, but Lieutenant Langenberg remained standing at the head of the table. Search management personnel continued to interrupt the lieutenant, peppering her with questions regarding placement of resources and other decisions that needed to be made.
No one realizes how much work and energy goes into a search effort,
Sarah thought.

Turning her attention back to the two women, Lieutenant Langenberg closed her eyes and gathered her thoughts. “Okay, we have a lot of information to go over. Some new knowledge has just come in from our K9 Unit as well. We’ll wait for him to make his way over here from the LKP. After we’re done going over the map and the subject’s details, I want you to meet with him so you can go over what he and his tracking dog found.”

“Are you talking about Trooper Graves?” Sarah questioned.

“Yes, that would be the one.”

“Was he able to work Bella this morning successfully?”

“He worked her over at the LKP and I believe the pair found some information that will be useful in determining where we’ll task you and your dogs. But let’s go over the map and the subject first. Then we find out what he’s learned. You three can discuss all the canine jargon.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Kellee added.

The first map the lieutenant opened up and straightened out across the table was a topo map. “Here we are,” she pointed to a cleared area with an unimproved road running alongside it, a small stretch of trees and the lake on the tree line side.

“Here is the LKP where the subject’s car was found.” In red letters, LKP was marked in a small clearing along Sinsheim Road and a small finger of Lake Marburg. A black circle had been made around that portion, indicating the initial search area that Sarah had noticed on the wall map on her way in. From there, arrows and notes had been drawn regarding the main trails, the most popular points along those trails and other frequently visited sections of the park.

“This is the area our K9 worked this morning.” The lieutenant continued to point at the black-encircled area with the tip of her pen. “The dog was able to pick up a track on this trail head, and follow it several hundred meters, but then apparently lost it. Dave can give you greater details. He should be here any minute.”

The door to the command unit opened. Dave’s booming voice could be heard as he spoke to the search management team on the way in.

“Hey there, guys! How’s it going this morning? Any luck yet?” Dave asked management, making his way toward the group of women. The management team just shook their heads as he passed.

Sarah was quiet as Dave approached. He seemed to be in a great mood.
Beaming’s more like it,
she thought. His smiling face did nothing to hide how he felt.

“Bella worked great this morning,” Dave said as he looked at the lieutenant, hands on his hips. “The conditions were difficult though. With all the major storms that have passed through there’s been a lot of rain since the car was left in the lot. And tons of foot traffic through the area as well. But Bella never gave up,” Dave said proudly. “Although we lost the track, she did give us a clue as to which direction the subject went after he exited his vehicle.”

“That’ll be very helpful,” Kellee responded.

“Good thing Bella’s on our payroll,” the lieutenant teased Dave.

Sarah couldn’t help but smile at him. Dave was excited and full of enthusiasm as he described how Bella had worked and found the track, giving every detail of their search effort from earlier. His energy was infectious as he used his hands to describe how Bella worked and the track she picked up. He was very animated. She could tell he was completely absorbed with his canine partner and doing scenting work.
It was hard not to be
.

The lieutenant however, didn’t seem to share their fascination in the minutiae of canine search. “Has anyone briefed your team on the subject yet?” she asked Kellee and Sarah, obviously trying to wrestle control back from Dave.

“No, that would be helpful, along with the tracking dog’s clues. Those will help us choose a sector to work the dogs. The subject’s physical shape, health and mental well-being can help us determine how far he might hike,” Kellee suggested.

“Knowing how he was dressed could help, too,” Sarah pointed out. “And what about friends, or someone who might’ve come by and picked him up? Does he have a cell phone?”

“Hang on, hang on, ladies. We have some interesting information on our subject. First off, he’s wanted by the authorities.”

“Wanted? What do you mean?” Kellee asked with deep concern in her voice. “We’re an all-civilian volunteer team. We don’t normally deploy for wanted criminals. ”

“Hang on, slow down,” the lieutenant repeated. “Seems he has a long rap sheet for petty stuff from juvie, but now he’s wanted due to a domestic altercation with his wife. Just wanted for questioning—there’s no warrant, and he’s not listed as dangerous. The wife won’t press charges. Yet again.”

“Does he have a license to carry? Do we know if he could be armed?” Kellee pushed for more information.

“No license to carry, but that never rules out any kind of weapon on him,” the lieutenant stated.

Sarah lowered her gaze to look at the map. She didn’t want her expression to give away what she was thinking.
I thought today would be stress free but it seems this area’s a shit magnet
.

The heated conversation between Kellee and the lieutenant continued. Kellee was seriously looking out for the team. She needed to make sure the canine handlers and their dogs would be working in a safe environment.

Or at least as safe as one could be with high-powered German Shepherds working off-lead in the middle of a forest,
Sarah thought sarcastically. A wicked grin crossed her face and she looked away again.

“So why is he wanted for questioning?” Kellee asked the loaded question.

“Seems this domestic altercation took place Tuesday evening between the subject and his wife. It wasn’t witnessed by anyone, and she won’t press charges, but the neighbors could overhear the argument and fighting. One neighbor called 911. When the police arrived on scene, the wife needed a ride to the hospital and the subject could not be found. The same neighbor also heard the missing subject threatening to kill himself. He’s a known drug addict as well, so overdose is a possibility.”

Sarah jotted down a few notes as she listened. There were standard questions to be asked and she knew Kellee would ask them. It was her responsibility to record the information.

“Has the subject attempted suicide in the past?” Kellee inquired.

“Not that we are aware of, but we are checking his background for that information.”

“As far as drug information, do you know what kind of drugs he regularly uses or has used in the past?” Kellee continued with her litany of questions.

“From what we have been able to gather, he is a regular marijuana user, but has used other harder drugs in the past.”

“Sorry, one last question. Does he have any medical conditions or is he on any medications that we be should be aware of?”

“Currently, we are not aware that he is on any medications. He does have a history of depression. Any more questions right now?” the lieutenant asked looking squarely at Kellee. It was clear that she wanted to move forward. Kellee just shook her head.

“Okay, as I was saying, the subject left home in his vehicle and hasn’t been seen since. His whereabouts are unknown, no clue until his vehicle was identified. Being it’s now Friday, he’s been missing for three and a half days. He’s listed as endangered and despondent.”

“Okay, now that we’ve got that out of the way,” Kellee sighed, “do we have a description, up-to-date information or a picture of our subject?”

“Of course,” the lieutenant smiled sarcastically. She gestured to the entire mobile unit. “We have the latest and greatest databases available. Wouldn’t do us much good if we couldn’t access the information we needed.”

Turning toward the printer that sat a few feet from the table, the lieutenant leaned down and pulled off a handful of documents. She handed one flyer to Dave.

“Dave, I need your search task report and a map of where your canine tracked. Do you have your paperwork with you?” the lieutenant asked.

Shaking his head Dave answered, “Hang on a second while I go retrieve it.” He headed to the door and out to the parking lot.

Another officer stepped up to the lieutenant, whispered something and pointed to an area across the unit. Lieutenant Langenberg answered him patiently, “Alright, just a minute,” then turned back to Kellee and Sarah. “Take a look at the subject’s info. I’ll be right back.” She placed another copy of the flyer between the two women and headed to the rear of the command unit.

Sarah looked down at the paper. She froze. Her eyes rapidly took in the subject’s picture, and her mind processed the specific details listed below. Sarah felt all the blood drain from her head. She stared at the flyer longer and her head started to spin.
Stop it!
she told herself.
What the hell?
No fucking way!
Sarah involuntarily sucked her breath in sharply.

Kellee, whose eyes had followed the lieutenant across the unit, had just looked down at the flyer, but turned immediately to Sarah at the sound. “What’s wrong?”

Sarah pointed to the name above the picture. She couldn’t believe it.
This must be some kind of sick joke
. Her mind raced out of control. She tried to regulate her breathing.