Happy Easter Monday! I hope you all had a lovely weekend. Today I’m doing something a little different: I’m sharing a teaser and excerpt from BURIED TRUTHS, my upcoming May release. If you loved COLD CASE K-9, I think you’ll absolutely love this story about a woman with amnesia and buried secrets from her past, and the K-9 Agent who must protect her while protecting his heart. You can preorder your copy today at https://amzn.to/4cpzfjU.
Teaser
A man and his K-9
Will defend her from danger
When Sergeant Mark Dillon’s K-9 police dog, Rocky, alerts him to something off a mountain path, he doesn’t expect it to be a young woman. Luckily, “Amanda” is alive—but her memory is gone and she has no idea who has left her for dead. As the investigation grows, Mark suspects Amanda is a witness who knows too much. Since she only trusts him, this undeniable connection means Mark and Rocky will do whatever it takes to uncover her buried truths…and keep her alive.
Excerpt
Mark Dillon approached the trailhead and paused, lifting his face to the warmth of the late spring sun that had chased away the chill of early morning. His K-9, Rocky, a powerful black cane corso, sat at his side and copied his stance, lifting his muzzle into the air.
Mark glanced at Rocky, smiled, and rubbed the dog’s large head, earning him a doggy kiss on his hand. “You’re a good boy,” he said. Rocky had been obedient as they’d hiked across a nearby meadow before returning to the trailhead.
He’d been training Rocky for nearly a year, and in that year, Rocky had matured into a powerful protector and a helpful partner in search and rescue operations.
But as obedient as he was, he needed a lot of activity to keep him in shape and, more importantly, happy.
Today’s hike was the perfect way to do that, especially since it was such a gorgeous day.
The nearby meadow was a carpet of thick, verdant grass broken by patches of purple clematis and penstemon, bright yellow wallflowers, and taller, almost bush-like butterfly weed plants. They were true to their word since several vibrant butterflies flitted around the blossoms.
By a burbling creek running through the meadow, the greens and purples of mountain bluebells and tall, hairy leaves of cow parsnip shot from the dark, fertile ground.
Ahead of him, along the trail, assorted trees had bloomed, painting the mountainside bright green.
Beautiful, he thought. It was why he loved hiking the woods and meadows in his spare time. Not to mention that his detailed knowledge of the areas around town had proved useful in more than one recent investigation.
It was why he had become his police chief’s right-hand man and the sergeant responsible for building a new K-9 division together with Diego Rodriguez, an agent with Crooked Pass Security in Denver.
With a soft click under his tongue to Rocky, they hiked the trail, an intermediate one that would challenge the canine and provide the activity he needed.
They had barely gone a hundred yards when something crashed through the nearby underbrush, snaring his attention. Fear chilled his gut that it might be a bear or bobcat.
He shortened Rocky’s leash, pulled him close, and commanded him to stay in German. “Bleib.”
He reached for the bear spray before realizing it wasn’t anything dangerous.
It was a woman, a beautiful woman, bruised and bloodied, struggling to walk through the underbrush. Her arms were wrapped tightly around herself to stay warm because she wore only a short-sleeved blouse and jeans. Not enough protection with the early morning chill.
He reinforced the stay command to Rocky and rushed to help the woman, who had stumbled and fallen to her knees, crying. But he wasn’t sure if she was crying in relief or despair.
When he reached her, he said, “You’re okay. I’m a police officer.”
She flinched, backed away from him, and whimpered, “No, no, no.”
Not the reaction he expected.
Holding his hands up in pleading, he reassured her. “You’re safe. Let me help.”
He slipped off his jacket and wrapped it around the woman.
She peered up at him, eyes slightly unfocused, and clumsily slipped it on. As she poked her arms through the sleeves, the bright pink-red ligature marks at her wrists stood out against her pale skin.
He muttered a curse beneath his breath, and she jerked back, fearful once again.
