Lawfully Held (K-9 Lawkeeper Romance) Read online

  LAWFULLY HELD

  Elle E. Kay

  Copyright © 2018 Elle E. Kay

  The Lawkeepers Series © 2018 Jenna Brandt and Lorana Hoopes

  All rights reserved.

  No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.

  Faith Writes Publishing

  266 Saint Gabriels Road

  Benton, PA 17814

  ISBN: 978-0-9994856-1-3

  Introduction to The Lawkeeper Series

  There's just something fascinating about a man wearing an emblem of authority. The way the light gleams off that shiny star on his badge makes us stare with respect. Couple that with a uniform hugging his body in just the right way, confidence, and mission to save and protect, it's no wonder we want to know what lies underneath.

  Yes, what echoes deep inside those beating hearts is inspiring. Certainly appealing. Definitely enticing. Although those ripped muscles and strong shoulders can make a woman's heart skip a beat--or two--it takes a strong, confident person to choose to love someone who risks it all every day. Anyone willing to become part of a lawkeeper's world might have a story of their own to tell.

  The undeniable charisma lawmen possess make all of us pause and take note. It's probably why there are so many movies and TV shows themed around the justice system. We're enthralled by their ability to save babies, help strangers, and rescue damsels in distress. We're captivated by their ability to protect and save, defend the innocent, risk their lives, and face danger without hesitation. Of course, we expect our heroes to stay solid when we're in a mess. We count on them for safety, security, and peace of mind. From yesterday to today, that truth remains constant.

  Their valor inspires us, their integrity comforts, and their courage melts our hearts--irresistibly. But there's far more to them than their courageous efforts. How do they deal with the difficulties they face? Can they balance work and life? And how do they find time for love outside their life of service?

  We want to invite you on a journey--come with us as we explore the complex lives of the men and women who serve and protect us every day. Join us in a fast-paced world of adventure. Walk into our tight-knit world of close friendships, extended family, and danger--as our super heroes navigate the most treacherous path of all--the road to love.

  The Lawkeepers. Historical and modern-day super heroes; men and women of bravery and valor, taking love and law seriously. A multi-author series, sure to lock up your attention and take your heart into custody.

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  The Lawkeepers is a multi-author series alternating between historical westerns and contemporary westerns featuring law enforcement heroes that span multiple agencies and generations. Join bestselling authors Jenna Brandt, Lorana Hoopes, Elle E. Kay, Patricia PacJac Caroll, Evangeline Kelly, Ginny Sterling and Barb Goss as they weave captivating, sweet, and inspirational stories of romance and suspense between the lawkeepers -- and the women who love them.

  The Lawkeepers is a world like no other; a world where lawkeepers and heroes are honored with unforgettable stories, characters, and love.

  ** Note: Each book in The Lawkeepers series is a standalone book, and part of a mini-series of sorts, and you can read them in any order.

  This book is dedicated to the dogs who have impacted my life.

  Chapter 1

  After looking around to be sure they were alone, Justine unhooked Lindy's leash. The German Shepherd contained her excitement and heeled beside her waiting patiently to run off and search for the hidden object. A hand signal and verbal command freed Lindy to take off down the trail. The dog lay down at the foot of a prickly pear cactus to indicate she'd hit on something. Justine pulled out a toy and they began a spirited game of tug of war. They moved along at a comfortable pace until a hawk broke the silence with a piercing squeal about two miles into their hike.

  "Come on, Lindy, girl, you ready to head back to Grandma's house?"

  A low bark answered her.

  They turned and ran back in the direction they'd come. Justine gradually slowed her steps a half-mile from the car to give them both time to cool down. By the time they reached her mother's Buick LaCrosse, they were both breathing normally.

  She opened the driver's door and Lindy hopped in and moved to her usual spot. The drive to her mother's was quick.

  After unlocking the door, she pushed it open. "Hi, Mom! We're back."

  "Who is it?" Her mother rounded the corner a blank look on her face.

  "Mom, it's me, Justine. Your firstborn, remember?"

  Another blank look.

  "Come, let's have some dinner. Okay?" She gently put an arm around her mother and led her to the kitchen.

  The visit wasn't going to last as long as she'd like. Her unit expected her and her partner back in Virginia. She was already three days into a seven day leave. How was she going to put her mother in a home? The woman who'd taken care of her until she'd left home for college. How could she fail her like this? Maybe she could bring her to Virginia. No. That wouldn't work either. Her sister and brother also had demanding jobs. This was the only way. Being the eldest, the responsibility fell on her.

  Justine chopped the capers and added them to the bowl of ground beef. She used to leave them whole, but her nephew picked them out. He thought they looked like deer poop. Chuckling to herself at the thought of someone actually adding deer poop to meatballs, she stuffed her hands into the gooey mixture and got started mixing and forming them.

  Thirty minutes later she pulled the pan from the oven and added them to the sauce. Justine preferred to call it spaghetti sauce, but it was her grandmother's recipe and she'd referred to it as gravy. They'd had it translated from the original Italian after she'd passed away.

  "Mom, do you think Grandma Gillespie, would approve of my meatballs and gravy?"

  "You mean, my Joseph's mother? Why don't you call and ask her?"

  "I'll do that, Mom." It was easier than telling her once again that Isabelle Gillespie had passed on ten years earlier.

  ∞∞∞

  Brady poured the half and half into his coffee and frowned when it curdled. After dumping it down the drain, he poured another cup. He took a sip of the bitter black liquid and opened the paper. A cold nose nudged his hand. He looked over at Blitz' bowl and saw it was still full of kibble. "What do you need buddy?"

  Blitz walked to the door and waited. Brady slowly stood putting the paper back down. Apparently, Blitz was ready to start the day. He grabbed the canine's leash from the hook by the door and opened the door for the dog. He locked up behind them and opened his truck. Blitz hopped inside wagging his tail wildly. If only Brady enjoyed going to work half as much as his partner did. He grinned at the dog as he started up the engine. Ten minutes later they arrived at the station. He liked his job, and having a partner like Blitz made the days enjoyable, but some mornings he woke up wondering if he was missing out on something important. Today was one of those days. Brady glanced at his watch and saw he still had time for a cup of coffee with decent creamer. He let Blitz out and they trudged inside.

  Fitz was standing at the coffee pot when he walked into the break room.

  "Fresh?" Brady asked.

  He held up the thick black sludge in his cup for Brady's inspection. "It's from this week, I think."

  "I'll make a fresh pot. The creamer was bad at home. I need a decent cup of coffee."

  "You don't need creamer. Drink it like a man."

  "I'm secure enough in my masculinity to take creamer in my coffee, but thanks, Fitz."

  "What's on the agenda
for today?" Brady emptied the filter bin and reached for a fresh filter from the cabinet above the coffee maker.

  "Not much. Some paperwork to chase down after the murder suicide last week and the bomb threat hoax at Morrisville High."

  "No new crazies overnight?"

  Fitz shook his head. "I wouldn't count on the sanity continuing."

  "I rarely do." Brady turned the machine on and watched as the liquid began to run into the pot. He went to the refrigerator and took out the creamer inspecting the date before adding some to an empty mug.

  "Shouldn't you be taking yours to go?" Fitz asked.

  "Not if I have to finish the paperwork from the Morrisville High hoax."

  "You were on that one?"

  "One of several troopers backing up the DPS Police Officer on scene."

  "Get that to me pronto and head out. I have a bad feeling about today."

  "I hate it when you say that." Brady poured some coffee into his cup of cream and walked to his desk.

  Twenty minutes later he and Blitz were piling into their silver and black Ford Interceptor SUV.

  ∞∞∞

  Justine's morning was not going smoothly. They had to be around somewhere. She'd left them on the night stand, same as always. Her mother must've moved them. She glanced at her watch. There was no time to continue the search. She'd look again when she got back from the nursing home. If she didn't find her credentials by afternoon she'd report them missing. Oh, how she hated the thought of doing so.

  She swept her hair into a ponytail, put her Glock in her hip holster and grabbed her purse.

  Her heart was heavy as she drove to meet the director of the senior care facility. Leaving Lindy with Mom seemed like the best thing to do. Mom needed her more than she did, but she longed for her canine's company as she drove the last few miles to the Sunshine Canyon Assisted Living Home. It was such a beautiful name. Too often the names of these facilities didn't match the reality.

  A few minutes later, she pulled into the lot, it was actually quite beautiful. The named seemed to fit. She parked the car, but didn't get out. Instead, she laid her head down on the steering wheel and closed her eyes. Maybe prayer would help. She hadn't been praying much lately. God hadn't answered her prayers to heal her mother or if He had, He'd said no. She tried to understand but couldn't. This was hard. Why this particular trial so soon after they'd lost Dad?

  Less than five minutes later, she opened the door to the home. A receptionist sat behind a wooden desk reading a novel. A sign-in sheet sat on the corner of her desk. The woman, who appeared to be in her mid-fifties, looked up from her book and smiled. "May I help you?"

  "Yes, please. I'm Justine Gillespie. I have an appointment with Margaret O'Donnell."

  The woman stood as she spoke. "She's waiting for you. You can follow me."

  An elevator ride and several turns later she was being ushered into Ms. O'Donnell's office. A cramped room with only one tiny window.

  "If you need me to show you the way out, have Margie buzz me and I'll be back in a jiffy."

  "Thanks, but I think I have it."

  "Have a seat, Ms. Gillespie. Do you want coffee?"

  "No, thanks. I'm fine."

  "Let's get started, shall we?"

  "Sure." Justine felt her hand move to her hair as if to twirl it, a habit she'd broken ten years earlier. She forced her hands to stay folded on her lap.

  "Why don't we start by you telling me about your mother?"

  "Okay." The meeting took well over an hour. The woman asked thoughtful questions and showed compassion and understanding for Justine's dilemma.

  She toured the facility and was satisfied with it. The institutional smell bothered her, but it was the antiseptic odor many such facilities had. She made arrangements to bring her mother on Saturday. Her heart was breaking, but there was no better option. At least her mother would be safe here.

  ∞∞∞

  Brady scratched behind Blitz' ears while they cruised Interstate 10. Blitz was the best partner he'd ever been assigned. He never argued or complained, was loyal, and did his job better than most. The German Shepherd was a multi-purpose asset capable of apprehension and detection.

  He pulled up behind a Buick LaCrosse on the off-ramp. The driver slowed, but didn't stop at the stop sign. It happened frequently since they'd only recently changed it from a yield to a stop. He stayed behind the Buick as it approached the traffic light. The driver sped through without so much as a tap of the brakes. "What do you think, Blitz? Should we pull her over?" He turned his lights on and followed. She didn't notice him. He considered the possibilities. The driver could've been drinking or using drugs. She could've had a medical emergency.

  Finally, she slowed and pulled over to the right. He pulled up behind her and ran her plates before stepping out of his vehicle and approaching the driver's-side window.

  ∞∞∞

  The sound of sirens broke her out of her reverie. She glanced in her rear-view mirror and saw the state police SUV. She pulled over, fully expecting it to pass on. Instead, it pulled off behind her, lights flashing.

  The trooper came to her window.

  "Ma'am, is there any particular reason why you ran a red light back there?" He removed his sunglasses as he spoke.

  "What red light?" She raised an eyebrow. The trooper had a touch of green in his golden brown gaze.

  "The one just past the off-ramp from I-80." The deep gravelly quality of the trooper's voice made her want to keep him talking.

  "I didn't see it. I'm sorry." She could see he had dark hair under his trooper hat, but couldn't get a good look at him.

  "License and registration, please."

  She reached into her glove compartment, but her wallet and her credentials weren't there, then she remembered. They were somewhere at the house. Glancing at the seat beside her, she realized she'd left her purse at the nursing facility. She opened her window the rest of the way and handed the officer the registration for her mother's Buick. "I'm sorry, I left my purse at the nursing home. My wallet is inside it."

  "One moment. I'm going to run this."

  He returned a few minutes later. "This registration doesn't belong to you. The vehicle belongs to a Hilda Gillespie. We'll need to verify you have permission to drive it."

  "That's fine. She's my mother. I'm Justine Gillespie."

  He left her sitting in the car for another ten minutes before coming back to her window. "Mrs. Gillespie says she has no children and didn't give anyone permission to drive her car. Ma'am reach your arm out the window and open the driver's door from the outside. Then put your hands on the hood of the car."

  "Are you serious?"

  "Yes, Ma'am. Do it now."

  "My mother has dementia. You need to speak with her nurse. Her not being able to identify me is not unusual."

  "Do as you were requested."

  "Fine, but you have no idea what you're doing." She did as he asked releasing herself from the car, then placing her hands on the hood.

  He read her her rights. "Do you have any weapons or anything sharp that might poke me?"

  "Yes. I have a Glock on my hip and a Sig Sauer in the glove box."

  He secured the weapons and walked her over to his car. As he did so, she told him. "I'm Special Agent Justine Gillespie, FBI. I'm in town to visit with my mother."

  "I'm going to take you in. We can verify your identity at the station."

  "You don't have a computer in your car you can use for that purpose?"

  "Like I told you earlier, you have the right to remain silent. For heaven's sake, please do so." He shut the door before she could respond.

  Justine closed her eyes and counted to ten. This was so not her day.

  ∞∞∞

  FBI. Unbelievable. The woman was interesting if nothing else. She had to be loony to think she was some sort of super special agent or whatever she'd said. Perhaps she was off her medication. There was a sadness in her eyes. A haunted look. Common in career criminals. The
y wanted to stop but didn't know how. Maybe he could get her some help. It wouldn't take much time to get this sorted out once he got her back to the station. He'd find out who she was. Reaching over he scratched behind Blitz' ears. The shepherd provided a calming presence.

  He looked back at the woman in the car. Her dark hair was half in and half out of her ponytail. The outfit she wore looked like professional slacks and a short-sleeved dress shirt, but they were askew and had paw prints. It looked liked Blitz had chased her down. He wondered what institution the woman might've escaped from. If she wasn't a career criminal, she must be a deranged mental patient.

  It didn't take long for them to make it to the station. He took the woman out of the car and led her inside. "We'll get this straightened out right quick and get you back on your way, if you're telling the truth." He chuckled, sure she wasn't.

  "And what about my mother's car?"

  "We'll have it towed. Can't release it to you when the owner says she didn't lend it to anyone."

  "Great. Fabulous."

  "Watch the sarcasm, Miss."

  The feisty brunette rolled her eyes. Definitely not an FBI agent. The woman couldn't control her emotions in the slightest. She would be a ticking time-bomb for any agency. He led her to holding.

  "You are not seriously considering leaving me in here?" She growled the words.

  He nodded and sauntered away to run the information she'd given him. The internet connection was slow. The rest of the country might have high-speed data, but they were a bit behind the times in the sparsely inhabited desert lands of southwestern Arizona. What passed for DSL here, was not in the same league as what they had in Phoenix.

  Trooper John Kearney walked toward him holding up what looked like a black leather wallet. "Hey, can you run this while you're at it. I've got a security officer from the power plant in my office. Found it on patrol."