Dark Summer

CHAPTER 2

"HE SHOULD WAKE UP ANY minute now." Devon turned away and stripped off her gloves. "Ned should be fine. But you should keep him confined for two weeks. He mustn't get excited and tear out those stitches."

"I won't cage him. Ned won't tear them out. I'll have a talk with him." His hands were stroking the dog's head with exquisite gentleness. "He's smart and knows what's good for him."

She found herself staring at the hands caressing the dog. Beautiful, graceful hands, and the tenderness of the movement was mesmerizing. The first impression of barely contained violence was completely at odds with this Marrok. She tore her gaze away. "Until he sees a cat cross his path. You may be proud of your dog, but you shouldn't risk him because you have a false sense of his intelligence."

"Not false." He glanced up at her. "And he likes cats. I haven't found an animal or human being he doesn't like… except one. That's why he's such a terrific rescue dog. He never stops trying." Ned was waking up, opening his eyes. "Take it easy, buddy," Marrok said softly. "It's all over. Now all you have to do is heal."

Ned whimpered and closed his eyes again.

Marrok was still stroking the dog. "You did a good job, Dr. Brady. Quick, neat, and thorough. Thank you."

"It's my job."

"It's more than your job."

She shrugged. "I love animals. But so do all the handlers on the team."

He smiled. "I don't doubt their affection, but yours strikes deeper, doesn't it? Why else would you have become a vet? How many dogs do you own?"

"Five."

"And other animals?"

"What difference does it make?"

"I'm curious."

"Four cats. Three parrots. A pig. A donkey."

"I take it that they're not all house pets?"

"I have a place in the country outside Denver. It's a few acres, big enough."

"Why so many?"

"Some of them are strays. Some of them were abused. Some of them were left because their own ers didn't want to pay their bill and told me to find them other homes."

"And you took them in."

"When I couldn't find them a good home."

"Who takes care of them when you're trekking over the world on these rescue missions? Your husband?"

"I have a housekeeper." It was about time she asked a few questions herself. "Don't you want to fill out a report on the shooting? Captain Ramirez will send someone to take a statement."

"I think I'll pass."

"I'd want to wring that bastard's neck," she said curtly. "And it's your duty to do it. If only to keep it from happening to someone else's dog."

"I don't have the time. I promise you that no other dog will be victimized by the shooter."

"How do you know? If they don't find him, you can't expect-" She stopped, her gaze narrowing. "You know who shot Ned?"

"I don't have a name. I know I can find him." He sat down in a camp chair. "Go on. I know you want to go check out that house that I flagged. I'll stay with Ned. Believe me, I've been through enough illnesses with him to qualify as an expert."

She hesitated. "I should be the one to stay with him. I never leave a patient on the first night." She added deliberately, "And I don't leave strangers with access to a medicine chest full of narcotics."

He shook his head. "There's a guard outside the tent."

"That's to keep thieves from coming in, not people from going out."

He smiled faintly. "Good point."

"And there were soldiers all over the mountain, and you managed to find your way to those ruins. You're lucky you weren't shot for looting."

He lifted his brows. "You think Ned and I were searching for loot, not survivors?"

"It's a possibility. What could appear more innocent than a rescue dog and his handler?" She added, "Even though they were scouring through ruins that the main team had already abandoned."

"Ned thought you were wrong. He thought there was still life in those ruins."

"It seems impossible. We were so careful."

"Could be. He turned up blank on the first try."

"Blank?"

"He made a mistake. He found a dead man. He was overanxious and wanted desperately to find someone alive. I don't think it was a case of his senses being off. His success ratio is in the 90 percent range."

"He's that good?"

"Exceptional. Some dogs are good, a few have the passion. From the moment I took him on his first rescue mission, he instinctively knew what to do and how to do it. I've never known any dog to have such a heady sense of joy as when he found someone alive in the rubble." His lips twisted. "Or such abject despair if we found them dead. He never got used to it. Every time it was new joy or fresh pain for him." His glance shifted back to Ned. "But sometimes the dead were too much for him. And then I tried to keep him at home. It's been a long time since I brought Ned to a disaster site."

"Why this one?"

"He was grieving," Marrok said simply. "He needed it."

"So you brought him to this island in the back of beyond because he needed to save a life?"

"It's not a bad reason, is it?"

She slowly shook her head. "Not to me. But most search and rescue dogs don't grieve when they're away from the disaster."

"Ned is different." He studied her face. "You look tired. Why don't you get someone else to go up and check out that house?"

"I'll be fine." She wearily rubbed the back of her neck. "I'll get my second wind on the way up."

His lips lifted in a slight smile. "I thought you'd do it yourself. You're not good at delegating, are you?"

"I'm already awake. Why rouse anyone else to trek up there on what is probably a wild-goose chase?"

"It may not be. What will you do if it isn't?"

"Jump up and down with joy. Then send up a flare for them to rush up a medical team." She looked at Ned. "I don't like to leave him. Are you sure you know what to do if there's a problem?"

"Ned is a powerhouse. He's strong, and his body heals faster than any animal you've ever treated. Now that the bullet is out, he'll begin to repair himself. You'll be amazed at how quickly he'll recover. I've told him what to do." He added solemnly, "And I promise not to rifle through your narcotics stash while you're off saving lives. Not that you won't warn that guard to keep an eye on me."

"You bet I will. You're going to have a lot of questions to answer when I get back." Though she couldn't believe Marrok was a petty thief. He was larger than life. She'd judge that he might find a way to embezzle a million, but he wouldn't be pilfering the medicine chest. As she headed for the entrance, she said over her shoulder, "If you need help, have the guard take you to my trailer. Nick Gilroy's a vet, too, and will know what to do."

He looked back at Ned. "I won't need help."

Devon paused a moment outside the tent to take a deep breath and look up at the mountain. Lord, she hoped Marrok was right about there being a survivor. It had been two days since the last person had been pulled out of the rubble, and the old woman had died on her way to the hospital in Caracas. Out of the two stricken village's population of 4500 people, they'd only been able to save 722. Dealing with disappointment as well as the grieving families of the lost ones had been agonizing for every rescue worker on site. She couldn't let herself be too hopeful. The odds against finding anyone alive weren't that-

To hell with it. She would hope until hope was gone.

She headed for the jeep.

WHO WAS NICK GILROY? Her friend? Her lover?

Marrok's gaze followed Devon Brady until she disappeared from view in the jeep. She was a woman who a man wanted to keep on looking at. Not pretty. Her mouth was too wide, her nose turned up a little, and she had a sprinkling of freckles over her cheeks. Yet together, the small imperfections gave her face interest and character. Though she was definitely not at her best tonight. Her short, brown-blond hair was tousled and her khakis and shirt rumpled. She was tall and thin, but her shoulders were squared even though he knew she was tired. There had been circles of weariness beneath her wide-set blue eyes, but you'd never know it from the way she carried herself. She walked with strength and purpose, and she'd treated Ned with the same strength and determination… and gentleness.

Oh, yes, there had been a world of gentleness when her hand had touched Ned. He valued gentleness. He had seen too much of roughness and brutality lately. Not that she wasn't a tough cookie. He had believed her when she said she'd go after the man who'd shot Ned herself. Toughness and gentleness… They were qualities he always demanded in the guardians.

Guardian?

Yes, he realized he'd been speculating about the possibility of using Devon Brady as a guardian since he'd first met her. Use. He grimaced as he thought how she would hate that word and concept.

Well, whether or not she would have to be used long term, he would have to use her to get over this bad patch with Ned. She was the right person in the right place, and he had little choice.

Get moving. She'd be busy on the search on the mountain for only a short while, then she'd be back. The excavators would have done the initial work by the time she got there. Whether or not she found anyone alive when she came back, she would still be suspicious and full of awkward questions. He took out his cell phone and dialed his pilot, Walt Franks.

Walt picked up on the second ring. "It's about time. Is Ned going to keep you up there all night?"

"Ned's been shot. Where are you?"

"Shot," Walt repeated. "How is he?"

"Okay. I had to have the vet here at the mountain take a bullet out of him, so I don't want to move him yet. Where did you set down?"

"But he's going to be okay?"

"Fine." Walt was crazy about the Lab, and Marrok should have known that he wouldn't get any information until Franks was assured Ned was not in danger. Well, he would have responded in the same way. "Two weeks, and he'll be bounding around like a puppy."

"That's good."

"Now, where are you?"

"I set the helicopter down in a glade on the other side of the island. Do you want me to come and get you?"

"No, you'd be spotted. The mountain is crawling with soldiers right now. The vet put a burr under them about a rescue dog being shot, and they're searching for the villager who did it."

"It was a villager?"

"No way. It was a Remington sniper weapon."

Walt was cursing. "Danner? He's found you?"

"That's my bet."

Walt was silent. "It's been four years, Marrok. How the hell did he do it?"

"Money. Manpower. Determination."

"I was hoping that we'd slipped under the radar."

"It was only a matter of time. Danner isn't going to give up until we find a way to take him out." He paused. "But first we have to take out his shooter here on the island. We can't risk leaving a trail for Danner to follow. If we can slide out from under here, we may have a little time for damage control."

"What do you want me to do?"

"Stay put. Be ready to pick me up when I call you and get me out of here."

"Anything else?"

"No. Yes. After you hang up from me, call Chad Lincoln with MI6 and get a report on Devon Brady. She's the vet taking care of Ned."

"You think she's connected with Danner?"

"No, that's not why I want it."

Walt was silent for a moment. "A guardian?"

"Maybe. At any rate, I'm going to have to leave Ned in her hands for a while. I can't risk moving him, and I can't stay here with him. I have to be sure I can trust her to take care of him."

"You wouldn't be considering her for a guardian if you didn't believe that already."

"I trust my instincts only so far. I have to be sure. I want that report before I leave the island."

"You'll have it. Do you know when you'll be ready to be picked up? What's the plan?"

"I don't have a plan. I'm just going hunting, then I'm going to kill the son of a bitch." He hung up.

But he couldn't leave now. Not until he was sure Devon Brady was on her way back down the mountain. He had to be certain that Ned was going to be under her personal care. He moved over to the entrance of the tent and stared up at the mountain.

She'd had time to get on the other side by now and had probably joined the excavators at the site where he'd planted his flag. She'd said if she found anyone alive, she'd send up a flare, and a medical team would tear up the mountain. All he had to do was wait.

Ned gave a soft bark behind him.

He looked over his shoulder and smiled. "Hi, back with me again? Don't move. Okay?"

Ned tried to get up and fell back with a little yip of pain.

"I told you. What a stubborn animal you are. You never listen."

Ned's tail thumped frantically on the table as he made another attempt.

"But this time you have to listen. You either do what I tell you, or you'll end up in a cage."

Ned froze, his eyes on Marrok's face.

"She wants to protect you from hurting yourself, and she doesn't understand that you don't need to be put in a cage. I told her you were smart enough not to do yourself damage." He grimaced. "And you promptly do something dumb. How can I help you if you-" He turned his head as he caught a brilliant flash out of the corner of his eye.

A flare lighting the darkness.

"Alive," he murmured. "Life, Ned. You found life up there. I told you that you'd do it." He turned and crossed back to the Lab. "They'll be bringing someone down soon. Because of you."

The dog was smiling. No one could convince Marrok that dogs didn't smile. He knew Ned did. There was an expression of eagerness and joy on the Lab's face, and he was looking out at the fading splendor of the flare as if he understood what it meant. Maybe he did. Ned understood what Marrok said. It could be that he was aware of more subtle meanings. Ned was always learning, always changing.

"Now are you satisfied? You found your survivor."

Ned was still staring raptly at the sky as if he could actually see that person, the life he'd saved.

Marrok could feel his throat tighten. "Crazy dog," he said thickly. His hand stroked Ned's throat. "Okay, you were right. It was worth coming here. Even if you managed to set us up for Danner." He drew a deep breath. "But now we have to wriggle out from under. And you have to help. You have to do exactly what I tell you. I'm going to stay with you until she comes back, but when I see her jeep in view, I'm gone." He had to talk fast, be very clear. It would be better if he switched to the language Ned had known since he was a puppy. "Listen carefully; I'll be back, but until…"

"IT'S A CHILD, NICK." DEVON jumped out of the jeep, excitement soaring through her. "A little girl not more than five. Her parents were dead, but the little girl is alive. She was unconscious and buried deep under the rocks. She's dehydrated, but the medics think there's a good chance she'll live. They're airlifting her out to a hospital in Caracas."

"And we didn't find her." Nick was shaking his head as he came down the steps of the trailer. "My God, I thought we were safe leaving that side of the mountain."

"So did I," she said wearily. "Who could know? We shifted that rubble a dozen times. None of the dogs thought there was anyone there. She was buried so deep her scent must have been almost obliterated." But Marrok's dog, Ned, had known she was there. Astonishing…

Marrok.

She turned and started for the first-aid tent. "I'll be back after I check on the Lab. Go back to bed. I just wanted to let you know. Let everyone know. It's been too long since we found a survivor."

"That's for damn sure." Nick turned. "It's too late to go back to bed. I'll throw some clothes on and give Gracie her breakfast."

He was right. The first light of dawn was breaking over the mountain. Too late to sleep. They had to finish up the last search, then get packed up. She should be tired, but she felt wide-awake and zinging with energy.

They had found a child.

After days of despair, a miracle had happened. She was so grateful that the Lab had found the little girl that she was even feeling charitable toward Marrok. Not that she wouldn't still have him investigated. The presence of the rescue teams had to be carefully monitored; otherwise, it would pose a danger to both the dogs and handlers. She could tell Marrok had experience in the field, and he should realize that. She believed him when he said he hadn't been looting on that mountain, but whatever reason he'd had, he should have-

He wasn't there.

She stopped in shock in the entrance of the tent.

Ned still lay on the table. He raised his head and whined softly as he saw her.

"How are you doing?" She crossed the tent. He seemed to be fine. Fully awake and alert and didn't seem to be in pain. "And where is your friend, Marrok? I need to talk to him."

Ned gave a low growl deep in his throat as if trying to tell her and nudged his head against her arm. She melted immediately. What a sweetheart.

She stroked his head. "You must have a great nose," she whispered. "You found a little girl tonight. Did you know that?"

He made a sound that resembled a half yodel, half bark. She would swear he was trying to answer her. She had not known a dog that tried so hard to communicate since her German shepherd, Tess, had passed away years ago. "Is that supposed to be a yes? I think it is. I used to feel as if my Tess could read my mind. But that's a bond that-" She broke off as she saw a piece of paper lying half-under Ned's body. "What the hell?"

She saw that her name was scrawled at the top of the page in bold dark script as she eased the sheet of paper from beneath the Lab. It was only a few lines.

I can't stay with Ned. Take him home with you, and I promise I'll pick him up as soon as I finish my business here. I've had a talk with him, and he won't be any trouble. I'd offer you money, but I know that won't work with you. You'll do it because you won't be able to leave him here hurt and with no one you regard as responsible enough to care for him.

Don't put him in a cage. Cages scare him and drive him crazy. Give him a chance to prove that it's not necessary. You won't regret it.

Marrok

Damn him.

Her hand closed around the paper, crushing it. She wished it was Marrok's throat. How irresponsible could you get? You didn't just leave your dog because it interfered with business. Particularly a dog like Ned. What business? She'd bet he'd skipped out before she had the opportunity to talk to the soldiers about his presence on the mountain.

She began to curse beneath her breath.

Ned tilted his head and gazed at her in hurt bewilderment.

"It's not you," she said. "You can't help it. You've just taken up with bad company. I could murder him."

"Anyone I know?" Nick asked from behind her. "I haven't seen you this mad in a long time. Let's see, I think it was that politician in Nicaragua who wanted to quarantine all the rescue dogs."

"Marrok," she said curtly. "He's run out on Ned."

"And this is Ned?" He came forward and looked down at the Lab. "Beautiful fellow." He patted the dog's silky black head. "And he looks like he's in great shape for just having a bullet taken out of him. He's doing well?"

"Great so far. Marrok said he healed well." Her lips tightened. "He also said if I took that bullet out of him, he'd be well in no time. Dammit, it doesn't work that way. All kinds of things can go wrong. He can't just waltz off and leave him."

"He left a note?" His brows lifted as he saw the crushed paper in her hand. "I see he did. May I?" He took the note from her and unfolded it. "He seems to know you very well for such a short acquaintance. Very perceptive."

"For heaven's sake, I'm a vet. That doesn't take much perceptiveness to realize I'd care about an animal."

"Enough to fight to take him back to the States? It's going to be one big headache to battle the search and rescue home base and the U.S. animal immigration laws to get a dog with no documents into the country."

"I know that," she said through clenched teeth. "I'm going to be on the phone for hours trying to get clearance… if I decide to take Ned home."

"No 'if.' You've already decided. You haven't stopped stroking Ned all the time you've been ranting and raving."

"It's not his fault that his master is an ass." She scowled. "Ned is special. He found that little girl. How could Marrok just leave him? He doesn't know me from Adam."

"You're not hard to read. No one would believe you'd abuse the dog."

"But he couldn't be sure. I may just keep Ned. It would serve him right."

"Why not? You seem to be harboring a good portion of the animal population of Denver." Nick smiled. "Should I go get Gracie and see if they're going to be compatible?"

"Not now. I have to cage Ned, then take Gracie up the mountain for-"

Ned was howling mournfully. It was soft, almost a sigh of sound, but that only added to the pathos.

He had understood?

"Cage?" she repeated.

The howling rose. It was enough to break her heart.

"For Pete's sake, shut up. It's for your own good. I can't risk you-"

Ned tucked his nose beneath her arm.

"Good God, what a con artist." Nick chuckled. "Do you want help getting him in a cage?"

That was what she should do. The downside of her profession was making decisions she didn't want to make.

Cages scare him. Give him a chance.

He had found that little girl. He deserved his chance.

"No, we'll leave him out of the cage." She pushed the Lab away from her. "You stay here and start packing up our equipment and keep an eye on him."

Nick shook his head disapprovingly. "I can't believe you're going to leave him out. If he gets excited, he may hurt himself."

"Marrok said he wouldn't." Her lips lifted in a sardonic smile. "He had a talk with him and told him not to be any trouble."

"What?"

"I know. I know. But you'll be here if Ned decides to be a problem, and he's still under sedation. If I made the wrong decision, give him another shot to quiet him." She looked down at the Lab. He was gazing eagerly up at her… and smiling. "Are you satisfied with yourself? Got your own way, didn't you?"

He gave that half growl, half purr, and laid his head back down on the table.

"You're quite the manipulator. Maybe that's why Marrok dumped you." She turned and headed for the tent entrance. "I'll start the phone calls to Immigration while I'm on the mountain with Gracie. If you have any trouble here, phone me."

"I believe I can handle one dog," Nick said dryly. "Since I started my own clinic before you were born."

"Don't be so prickly. You know I'm not questioning your capability. But I'm the one who decided not to-"

"Get out of here," Nick said. "You're making it worse. Prickly? Old men are prickly. I don't intend to be an old man for the next thirty years or so."

"Longer than that." Her smile faded as she looked back at Ned. "I can't believe he left him. He seemed hard, but when he touched that dog, he was…" She hesitated, thinking about that moment.

"What?"

She tried to sort out the emotions she had sensed in Marrok. "Close. It was almost as if they were part of each other. Not dog and master. Not even friends. So close that…" She shrugged helplessly. "I don't know. I felt as if I could feel the bond between them. He was like a honed blade, hard and sharp and glittering, but with Ned he was gentle, incredibly gentle."

"Then he'll probably be back for his dog. You won't have him on your hands for long."

"If I decide to let him have Ned back." She said over her shoulder as she left the tent, "He hasn't proved that he's very responsible. Dammit, he got the dog shot, and heaven knows what Marrok was actually doing up on the mountain."

But they had found a little girl because Marrok had taken Ned to search those ruins, she thought as she moved toward her trailer to pick up Gracie. That miracle had happened.

So stop whining and accept the good with the bad. She'd take care of his dog and get him well and strong. After that she'd decide if Marrok was worthy of having her return Ned to him. She could have a battle on her hands. He didn't appear to be a man who would let anyone decide anything concerning him.

Yet she had a sudden memory of Marrok's hand on Ned. Strong, vital, full of power, able to crush, but possessing that incredible gentleness.

What did she know? They had been together only a short time. Perhaps that toughness was only a front. It could be that she was wrong. Maybe he really was a gentle man.