Every Last Breath (18 page)

Never in a million years did she think he would mistake her for an Indian sprit.

As she made her way around the back of the house she looked up at Jack’s bedroom window, the house seemed uninhabited. She stopped calling his name.
       No reply. She warmed her shoulders from the November wind. Where was he? This time she cupped her hands over her mouth. “Jack are you home, it’s Maggie.”

The darkness grew around her and she got the feeling she should return to the car. The winds picked up and Maggie walked along the southern side of the home, past the metal garbage cans and ducked under a pine tree.

When she looked up again she thought she saw something, or someone in the distance. But the dark made it hard to see. She continued toward her car, keys in hand ready to sneak inside. The closer she got to the vehicle, the more she stared at the man approaching. He was walking at a steady gait, shoulders down, fists clenched. She ran toward the driver’s side.

“Don’t you move,” a voice declared. Maggie turned back around. It was Jack. 
        His eyes were wide and dark, his shoulders bent. “Where’ve you been? I’ve been looking for you?”

He presumed to walk around her, inspecting her like an apprehensive dog. “Jack, what are you doing? Why aren’t you talking to me?”

His movements were slow and methodic. “Seriously, you are scaring me. What is wrong? Are you okay or not?”

“You’re not her.”

His voice was sullen. “I’m not who?”

He stopped and squared off in front of her. “You are not Maggie.”

Her ears tingled. The air on the street corner turned deathly cool. “Jack. What’s wrong with you? Why would you say that?”

Maggie stood still. She feared turning her back on him. If she opened the car door, he could crush her between the door and the frame. Instead, she stayed there, watching his face contort as if he were a dog plotting his next move.

She knew right then, that escaping Jack was not an option. Although the thought was unconscious, he made his point. The question now was would she make hers?

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

As the car reached the 8000 feet marker, a patch of clouds rolled in. Maggie turned on her headlights as she passed the sign welcoming her to Cascade Township. It sure looked like more snow was headed their way.

Her phone jingled. Klaus had called about work, among some other random texts. Just as she returned her eyes to the road, Detective Brant called.

“Hello?”

“Yes detective, this is Maggie.”

“Ms. Burke we need you to come by the station in the Springs. A security guard at your son’s school reported finding yellow beer can on the school play yard. We’ve pulled fingerprints and they match.”

Maggie called Ben immediately.

“Where’s Eli?”

“In bed, he took a nap just before lunch.”

Her heart leapt. “Go check. Check his room.”

“What’s the fuss, what’s wrong?”

Maggie changed lanes and sped up the mountain. “Ben, tell me you have him?”

“What’s going on?”

“Just go get him. Wake him up and stay by Vala.”

“I’ll be home as fast as I can.”

Maggie hung up and sped past a plow and veered into oncoming traffic. A patrol car flipped on his lights and zoomed up behind her, but Maggie kept going. When she turned into the neighborhood the police car was on her tail. She nailed every bump on the dirt road as she drove uphill toward her house. Clicking the garage door open, she threw the car in park and raced into the house.

“Eli, Eli!”

She caught sight of Ben. “Where is he?”

She ran to his room, his sheets were thrown back and the side deck door was slightly ajar. “Ben, oh my God.”

Her heart throbbed. “He took him. He took him!”

Ben appeared in the doorway, his back to the wall. “He took who?”

Her fingers pulled at the rug as she hung her head. “Jack’s got Eli.”

“Maggie.” Ben moved toward her. Just then Eli walked out of the bathroom with dripping hands. “I am right here momma. I had to wash my hands.”

She wobbled to him on her knees and picked up her boy. She kissed him hard and held onto him.

“Momma what happened? Did the coyotes scare you again?”

She wiped her eyes and smiled. What a relief to see him unharmed. Eli twisted around and spoke to Ben. “She gets scared of the coyotes when she walks Vala. But coyotes don’t like people.” He placed his hands on his Maggie. “Don’t worry mom. They won’t hurt you.”

The policeman who tailed her had made his way into the house. Apparently when he called in the address and asked for backup, the dispatcher gave him an overview of the situation.

She hugged him even tighter.

“Ms. Burke, is everything all right?”

She gave Eli over to Ben and rose to her feet. She pointed to the door and explained the problem to the officer. He asked Maggie to stay in the kitchen while he combed the area.

Ben had Eli settle down in front of the TV. He walked toward Maggie and enveloped her in a hug. Her body tightened as she pulled him as close as she could. When would it be over?

Ben’s arms wrapped around her like a tree. She felt so secure and loved but the second she pulled away, her heart would stir. “Oh my God Ben, what do I do?”
      Ben was frazzled. “I don’t get it, why not come in and take him?”

Maggie hung in his arms. “Don’t worry Maggie. I won’t let him hurt you or Eli. I promise.”

The Cascade police returned to the kitchen with a bottle of whiskey wrapped in today’s newspaper. It was left just outside your son’s bedroom. “Couldn’t have been there too long, it’s not frozen.”

Maggie gasped. “And there are fresh prints heading toward the house from the backyard.”

“Follow the prints.”

“It’s not that easy. The snow has piled up in the back yard, with the way the snow melts in these parts, there are large pits masking where the footprints taper off. He could have gone any way.

Maggie’s stomach was in a knot. She had Ben and the police in her home but she felt as nervous as she did when it was just she and Jack.  When Detective Brant arrived she felt better. He would have an action plan, he had to.

“We don’t want this to progress. We’ve got evidence that your ex husband has been at Eli’s school.”

Maggie felt weak. “He can’t have Eli. You have to find him.”

“I know Ms. Burke. I’ve already spoken to the Cascade police, they are on the lookout. We’ve faxed a description of your ex to surrounding towns. The police here will keep a look out on you for three days.

Ben spoke up. “What exactly will they be doing?”

“An unmarked officer will be posted outside the house as a safe guard after curfew. During the day, we will monitor the home closely while you maintain a low profile in the community.”

“I understand.”

“What if it doesn’t work?”

Detective Brant squared his shoulders. “Oh it will work.”

Ben interrupted. “I’ve read up on my profiling. Won’t guys like Jack be deterred by the lack of media? I mean, don’t they live for the sensationalism?”

“Not always. Jack Burke seems more disturbed than anything.”

Maggie packed her things. Just as she closed Eli’s top drawer a female officer entered the room. “Maggie, I’m officer Connolley.”

She turned and saw a woman similar to her. “I’ve come down from the Aurora police station. I’ll be staying in your home while you’re gone.”

Maggie nodded and kept busy. When detective Brant made the call to the local woman’s shelter Maggie had vain notions of what she would put Eli through. It was just days before Christmas and now they were leaving their home. What would she tell him?”

The cool air stung against her cheek as Maggie carried Eli to the car. Ben was already seated inside and took Eli from her warm arms. He seemed excited to ride in a patrol car and even more thrilled to sit behind the cop in the enclosed backseat.

Maggie surveyed the interior laptop, and gadgets in the car, this was really happening. Jack was after her and she was helpless. She prayed to God,
“Father, only you can protect me now. I give my entire life to you, Eli and Ben. May we get through this night and may you end this reign of terror.”

Everything looked blurry as they left the house. “Don’t worry Ms. Burke. Everyone at the station will be working on this case.”

Maggie winced, that wasn’t exactly what she wanted to hear. The snow had gathered on the curbside and the street plows were in full affect. It reminded her of the day she got Vala. Finding the kennel was quite a feat. It all started with an internet search for guard dogs.

The first site included photos of German shepherd puppies, expensive ones at that. Though cute, no one caught her eye. Each site had its own handler and breeder but so far no one had the edge she was looking for.

Her search seemed vain until she read about a local handler who trained dogs for the Denver Police Department; there was even a female judge who had a canine as a personal protection dog. Maggie called the judge’s office and asked for a referral. She called that trainer, and was put in touch with Klaus.
       After leaving four phone messages, she decided to visit the compound herself, which is exactly what she did.

Two days later she pulled off the road and followed the signs to the K9 School. The property was spread out and an old home stood tall and center. She looked around at the unkempt lawn and wire fences— it was not what she was expecting.

She clutched the computer print out as if it were gold. This was the place. Five kennels stood alongside the driveway, the dogs all watched her as she exited the car. There was not a single bark or anxious behavior. They just sat and watched, like they were on guard.

She went into the building marked office. When the door pushed back a man wearing a tattered sweatshirt and cut off sweat pants sat in a cloud of cigar smoke.

Maggie spoke first, “I’m looking for Klaus, Officer Carmike from the Denver K9 unit sent me.”

He smiled and replied, “I am Klaus.”

She moved closer and held out her hand. He stared back at her. “Is there something I can do for you?”

“Yes, as a matter of fact there is. I am interested in your training. I need a dog.”

“What do you mean you need a dog?”

She went on to explain her relationship with Jack.

Klaus put out his cigar and leaned forward. “I am sorry to hear that, but my dogs are not pets. And they cost more than a car.”

“I understand. I’m willing to pay.” Maggie looked around. “It looks like you could use some help around here.” He stood up and took a baseball hat off the wall. “Follow me.”

They sat at the office table as he explained the program the training, and its purpose. He had police dogs that were trained for narcotics, explosives and cadavers, and he trained handlers to do the same.

“Now I don’t sell puppies here, but we train them. There is an extensive test used to determine a dog’s ability to protect, in German it is called Schutzund. My dogs all have passed this test.”

Maggie had done her reading.  A dog trained with verbal commands and hand signs were not what she needed. The Schutzund training did more, it taught the dog to think on its own. That’s what she needed.

“Have you selected your puppy yet?”

“No, do I need to?”

“Well, if you want a guard dog, you are going to need a dog.”

Maggie smirked, “Of course. Do you have any dogs that are available?”

Klaus looked at her but kept walking.

Klaus led her to a kennel with eight stalls, much like a barn. “I work with the dog for two months, and then you come for five weeks. It’s every day, so you will need to take off from work.”

“I’m a book agent, so that’s no problem.”

“What price range can you afford for the dog?”