Dog Tags

CHAPTER 24

M WATCHED AS WILLIE MILLER AND MILO LEFT THE SHELTER THROUGH THE BACK DOOR. He saw Willie put Milo in the back of his car, and then look around to make sure he wasn’t being watched. M was at a well-concealed vantage point, so he wasn’t worried that Willie would see him.

M had been smart enough to realize that the lawyer might try to come up with a diversion. That was why he stationed himself in the back. Not taking any chances, he had some people covering the front and following the lawyer as he left, but M was right that the whole thing was a fake.

The fact that Landon had told him not to take any action other than following the dog seemed to M a mistake. It would be the easiest thing in the world to kill the dog right now, or to kill Willie Miller and grab the dog.

M wasn’t pleased that Landon seemed to have taken over day-to-day control of the matter. Such operational issues were often military in nature, and this was not Landon’s area of expertise. Yet for the moment, it was not M’s job to question it.

M followed Willie’s car at a distance. As always, he had done his homework, and he knew about Willie’s partnership with Carpenter in the animal shelter that they ran. So he knew where Willie lived, and he knew where the shelter was. There was little doubt that the dog would wind up in one of those places.

Once Willie got on Route 46, M knew that he was taking Milo to his home in Montclair. It didn’t surprise him; M knew that the property was secluded and fenced in, an ideal place to keep Milo hidden from public view.

M also knew that he would have no trouble getting to Milo whenever he wanted. As soon as Landon gave him the word—and M hoped that would be soon—M would do what had to be done.

M picked up his cell phone and called Landon at the number he always answered.

“Speak,” Landon said.

“The dog has been taken out of the shelter, and I’m following him.”

“Does the lawyer have him?”

“No.”

“Are there any reasons for me to be concerned?” asked Landon.

“None.”

“Good.”

Click. Landon hung up without saying good-bye. M didn’t take offense. Not with the money he was making.