Fire and Ice (13 page)

Robyn soon arranged the plan with her mother, who sounded thrilled that the two young people were getting together for a meal. Robyn called Rick back to tell him she’d be there.

She took her file folder into the news office and chatted for a few minutes with one of the reporters, who took notes and promised that the article would run the following week.

Leaving the office, Robyn noted that she had only a half hour before she was to meet Rick. She took out the list of Anchorage kennels she’d put together the night before, from Internet searching and the Yellow Pages. No time to visit any of them before lunch, and her stomach had begun to perform forward rolls every time she thought about seeing Rick again. On a lunch date. Deep breaths.

She got to the restaurant before he did. After looking around the parking lot to make sure he wasn’t there, she walked to the shop next door and asked if she could hang a flyer for the race in their window, where other events were posted. The icy cold glass tingled her fingers as she taped up the flyer.

She got back to the restaurant as Rick parked his pickup. He climbed out and grinned when he saw her near the entrance. Suddenly Anchorage in January felt like a tropical beach. Robyn was sure her face turned scarlet.

The restaurant was full, but they waited only a few minutes before a table opened for them.

“Get your errands done?” Rick asked after they’d given their orders to the waitress.

“Yes, mostly. I need to pick up the trophies, but the shop is near the highway, so I think Mom and I will stop there on our way home.”

“Everything’s coming together for the race, then.”

“Yes.” She frowned, feeling she must have overlooked something. “Every year it rushes up at us, and we have a thousand details to take care of, then suddenly it’s over.”

“Sounds about right. Have you thought about security?”

“Quite a lot since yesterday. We decided to hire someone to watch the dog lot that day.”

“Too bad it had to come to that.”

“I know, but if we go off all day and leave the place unprotected … and the whole world will know we’re over at the race.”

“Are you taking any dogs?”

“I usually have a few of our best ones hitched up and showing off at the race to advertise. Darby and my brother, Aven, will be helping.” She clenched her jaw for a moment. “Of course, Tumble was going to be our poster child for the kennel. If we don’t get him back … oh Rick, I’m so discouraged.”

“I guess it’s hard not to be.”

“The police don’t have any leads yet, or if they do, they haven’t told us. Mom talked to Trooper Glade this morning, and all he did was assure her that Sterns actually took the dogs he bought to the kennel he said he’d use.” She looked up as the waitress appeared with their plates. After the woman had set them down, Robyn smiled across the table. “Would you like to ask the blessing?”

“Sure.”

After he’d prayed, they began to eat, and Robyn steered the conversation to his work. She enjoyed hearing about the four-footed patients he’d treated that morning.

“It’s been awhile since I examined a ferret,” Rick concluded. “And a woman brought in the most beautiful Persian kittens.”

They ate for a few minutes. He took a sip from his coffee and set the cup down. “Hey, things are going to be okay. You know that, don’t you?”

“Thanks. I admit I’m still fretting over the dogs. Especially Tumble and Pat’s two dogs.”

“We’ll keep praying,” Rick said.

Robyn ate the last bite of her sandwich and opened her bag. As she took out a piece of paper, the waitress approached.

“Dessert, folks?”

Rick raised his eyebrows and smiled at her. “Piece of pie?”

“No thanks, but you go ahead if you want.”

“No, we’re all set,” Rick told the waitress. She totaled the bill and laid it on the table. “So what’s that?” Rick nodded toward the paper Robyn had unfolded.

“It’s a list of kennels in the area. I want to go by that place where Sterns left Coco and the other two dogs.”

“Why? The police said it was legit, and I mentioned it to Hap Shelley this morning. He says the couple who own the place are honest and treat the animals well.”

Robyn frowned. “Call me stubborn if you want, but I’d like to see it for myself.”

“Okay, Stubborn. But let me go with you.”

“Can you do that? I thought you had to get back to the clinic.”

“It’s not far from here.” He looked at his watch. “Plenty of time.”

She left her car in the restaurant’s lot and climbed into Rick’s pickup with him. She was surprised when, just a few minutes later, they entered a residential area and pulled in at a house with a kennel sign out front.

Following signs, they walked around the house. A din of yapping erupted, and several dogs in fenced runs leaped up and barked at them.

A woman met them just inside the entrance. “May I help you?”

Robyn cleared her throat. “Yes, I’m Robyn Holland, and I’d like—”

“Of the Holland Kennel in Wasilla?”

“Yes.” Robyn stared at her.

The woman smiled. “One of my clients recently bought some dogs from you. They’re beautiful.”

“Why, thank you. That’s why we’re here, actually.” Robyn peered toward the door that led to the kennels and dog runs.

“Did you … want to see the dogs?” The woman frowned.

Rick stepped forward. “We just wanted to inquire, since we were in town, and make sure they’d arrived safely and are adjusting well.”

She nodded, eyeing him thoughtfully. “Have we met?”

“I’m Dr. Rick Baker, from the Far North Veterinary Hospital.”

“Of course.” Her expression cleared.

“Miss Holland is extremely particular about making sure the dogs she sells are well cared for,” he said. “I told her this is one of the top kennels in Anchorage.”

“Thank you. I can assure you the dogs are all fine. They seem to be settling in well. Mr. Sterns expects them to be here for a couple of weeks.”

Robyn nodded. Probably the woman had security rules that wouldn’t let just anyone walk in and visit dogs that belonged to other people.

“I … I also wondered if you’d had any other dogs come in yesterday or today that might be …” She looked down at the floor, unsure how to proceed.

The woman said carefully, “The police were here this morning, looking for stolen dogs.”

Robyn nodded, attempting to hold back tears that sprang into her eyes. “We had six dogs stolen.”

“I’m so sorry. We’ve only had two others check in within the last twenty-four hours, and they’re both repeat clients. But if anyone shows up with several well-cared-for huskies, I’ll let the police know.”

“Thank you.” Robyn pulled the list of kennels from her bag. “Could you please tell me what you know about these places? I thought perhaps we should call them and ask if anyone had brought dogs in….”

The woman took the paper and studied it. “I know these folks, at the Aspen Kennel. That’s a good one. And I think Bristol is all right. This one …” She touched one name and glanced into Robyn’s eyes. “I don’t know much about the Galloway Kennel, but what I’ve heard….” She shook her head. “They’ve been in business a few years, but I wouldn’t take my dog there.” She ran down the list, making a few comments about each one. “This one’s new, and I don’t know anything about it. Never heard of this one.” Finally she handed the paper back. “Sorry I couldn’t be of more help.”

“I appreciate it.” Robyn took a card from her pocket. “Here’s my card for the Holland Kennel. One of the stolen dogs was Tumble, our primary breeding male. If you hear anything—anything at all that you think might have to do with our situation—could you please call me?”

“Sure. I hope you get your dogs back.” The woman pocketed the card. “Rosie is out in her run now. I think Mr. Sterns’s other two dogs are inside napping. But if you step outside and look through the fence at run 4, you should see Rosie.”

“Thank you.” Robyn turned and went out. Rick followed her to the metal mesh fence, and she looked across the expanse, over the head of the Brittany spaniel leaping and barking at her just inches away in the first run. Sure enough, Rosie stopped trotting along the fence of her enclosure and barked at Robyn and then stood whining, her nose pushed into the mesh. Robyn clenched her shaking hands on the fence.

“We’d better go,” Rick said softly.

She nodded, unable to speak. She didn’t want to upset the dogs. Already, Rosie might be fretful because she’d seen her former owner. Robyn trudged to the pickup.

Rick opened the passenger door for her and offered his hand for a boost up. When he got into the driver’s seat, he smiled apologetically. “Ready to go back?”

She swallowed hard. “Yeah, just take me back to my car. Thanks.”

“You can tell your grandfather that these three dogs are in good hands.”

She bit her lip and said nothing, but she knew she wouldn’t go straight back to the nursing home.

“What’s the matter?” Rick asked.

She looked up into his gentle brown eyes. “I think I’ll drive over to the Galloway Kennel.”

“What for?” He eyed her for a moment then reached for her hand. “No, Robyn, don’t.”

“What if they’re over there? I can’t not look. She made it sound like it’s the worst kennel in town. If Tumble’s in there …”

Rick sighed. “What’s the address?”

She told him, and he started the engine.

“You’re … taking me there?”

He said through gritted teeth, “It’ll be quicker if we don’t go back to the restaurant first. And I’m not letting you go alone.”

Almost half an hour later, they located the Galloway Kennel. Rick parked at the curb a hundred yards beyond the building.

He ought to call Far North and alert them that his lunch hour would probably stretch to two. It wasn’t something he liked to do, but then, he almost never did it.

“This is a pretty bad neighborhood.” He stared out at the littered sidewalk and dilapidated buildings.

Robyn raised her chin. He’d come to recognize that as a sign that she wasn’t giving up. With a sigh, he got out of the truck and went around to open the passenger door for her. They went in together.

A bell on the door jingled, and a woman came from an inner room, where several dogs were barking. The warm smell of dogs and bedding met them.

“Hi,” Rick said. “We’re looking for some dogs that were stolen yesterday from a breeding kennel in—”

“Stolen? Why are you looking here?” The woman rested her hands on her hips and glared at them.

Rick gulped and glanced at Robyn. Wrong approach.

Robyn said, “We’re contacting all the kennel owners in the area. The police are looking for these valuable dogs, but we thought perhaps business owners could help us, too. If you’d be on the lookout for—”

“Are you insinuating that we would have stolen animals here? This is outrageous.”

Rick spread both hands. “No, ma’am, you don’t understand. We only—”

“Oh, I understand. I understand plenty. Go on. Get out of here.”

He looked at Robyn. She gritted her teeth and shrugged.

“Let’s go.” He reached for her arm and guided her toward the door.

When they were outside and the door shut behind them, she let out a pent-up breath. “Of all the—”

“I’m sorry.” Rick walked beside her toward the pickup. “I jumped right in and said the wrong thing. I should have let you do the talking.”

“Now we’ll never know if they’re in there.”

“Maybe not. But we can ask the police to come by and take a look.”

She nodded. “I guess.”

Rick opened the door and helped her into the truck. Once inside, he hesitated to start the motor. “What now?”

She eyed him cautiously. “You’re up for more adventure?”

“Well, I sort of feel like I’m the one who blew it.” He consulted his watch. “If there’s another one that’s not too far from here, we could try one more. I promise to be more diplomatic this time.”

“Or sneakier.”

“That might work.”

She smiled then. It was worth the wait, especially when she reached over and squeezed his hand. “Thanks for being here. Facing her alone would have been scary. And I do think we should ask the police to question her. As soon as possible.”

Rick took his cue and pulled out his phone. He tried Trooper Glade’s number. When he got no response, he rummaged in the glove box for an Anchorage street map. He handed it to Robyn, and she pored over it while he dialed his friend.

A minute later, he was able to tell Robyn, “Joel Dawes said they’ll send someone out here this afternoon. I think we can count on it. And he’ll let us know the outcome.”

“Good.” Robyn pointed to her crumpled list. “The kennel closest to this one is a new one. That lady at the first place said she didn’t know anything about them. But that might be a good place to hide some hot property, don’t you think?”

“Maybe so.”

He drove a few miles and found the location. He and Robyn climbed out of the truck and stood by the tailgate, looking over the rundown one-story building. Paint was peeling off the siding. The front held no windows, and the door had a handwritten sign that read B
ARKLAND
K
ENNEL—PICKUP HOURS
9
TO
11
A.M. AND
4
TO
6
P.M
. Barking and whining came from the back of the property.

“Maybe we should let the police handle this one, too.” Rick glanced hopefully at her, but her jaw was still set. “I can try Trooper Glade again. Even if they didn’t come until tomorrow …”

“The dogs could be taken out of Alaska by then.”

“Well, yes.”

Her brows drew together in a scowl. “And the police aren’t going to want to spend hours searching every kennel in town. I’m sure they have violent crimes that are much more urgent.”

“No. They’d send someone. This is like grand theft, isn’t it? Those dogs are valuable. I’m sure if I talk to Joel, I can convince him that it’s important to send someone here as well as to that Galloway place.”

“But if our dogs aren’t here, they wouldn’t go and search all the other kennels on the list.”

“Is that what you plan to do?” This was getting out of hand. He’d had no idea she was so determined. No way could he blow off the clinic for the whole afternoon and escort her to half a dozen more kennels. “Robyn, I can’t go around to them all with you. If I’m gone much longer, the clinic staff will send the police out to look for
me
.”