Marginally better. She had no idea what she was stretched out over, but it was actually quite comfortable, soft and pliable, and she relaxed slightly.
Finally getting the message that it was quiet time, Sadie cuddled up beside her.
It was so dark. She could hear Nicks voice, could hear the policemans voice, but couldnt make out the words. A wide yawn escaped her. She had hardly slept in days, and she felt it now, in every ache of her body, in her fuzzy-and quickly getting fuzzier-thoughts.
Dont fall asleep, she told herself, though Sadie already had. Her deep, steady snores mocked Danielles exhaustion.
Counting didnt help. Neither did thinking of the mess her life had become.
Nick. Shed think of Nick. He had a smile on him, a smile that went all the way to his eyes. Ted hadnt smiled like that, as if he really meant it.
Why had she never noticed that before?
Nick had a voice on him, too, she was listening to it now as he talked to the officer. In her not-too-distant past, she might have fallen for a voice and a smile like his, but not now. Falling meant trusting, and she just didnt have it in her to do that, not ever again.
Itll be okay, she whispered to her sleeping dog. Somehow it would, and she curled up and closed her eyes.
SERGEANT ANDERSON EYED the photo studio reception area, his sharp eyes missing nothing, but thankfully, there was nothing to see.
Not out here anyway, Nick thought.
Youre certain you dont have anyone scheduled for today? the officer asked yet again.
As I mentioned, were closed, Nick answered. My sisters run the place, and theyre on vacation for several weeks yet.
Youre not a photographer?
Im a journalist.
What if someone calls you, wants to book an appointment?
Ill book it.
Sergeant Anderson narrowed his eyes and watched him very carefully. But you wont be opening for business?
Danielle, what have you done? Have you ever tried getting good pictures of a baby? Or a high school grad student? He shuddered. Nightmare waiting to happen.
Anderson slowly nodded, his gaze taking another slow tour of the place. Yeah, I have one of those grad students. Shes into makeup, boys, looking at herself in the mirror, and more boys.
Exactly.
So anyone wanting their picture taken is going to get turned away?
Nick didnt look at the south wall, where at this very moment, on the other side, sat Danielle and her damn dog. If either of them made a noise, or so much as sneezed, they were all in very big trouble.
What the hell had gotten into him when hed shoved her in there and had offered to help? Had he lost his mind?
Yes, he admitted. One look into her lovely but vulnerable eyes and he had indeed lost brain cells at an alarming rate.
And now, though it made no sense, he offered his first lie. Turned away flat. So whats this about, anyway?
Anderson took one last look around. Im looking for a woman whos going to want a professional photograph of a dog shes stolen. Theres only two photograph studios in the immediate area, so He headed toward the door.
Nick walked him there, hoping that would be the end of it, but of course, nothing was ever simple.
Anderson had one last thing to say. If a woman named Danielle Douglass comes in with a dog, heres my card. Call me.
Nick took the card, controlling his dread. What will happen to her?
Well worry about that.
After hed shut the door, Nick leaned back against it and drew in a deep breath. At heart, he was a journalist. He hunted out stories and told the truth. The whole truth and nothing but the truth.
There was a story here, a big one, only he didnt know the half of it.
He would though. He definitely would. Pushing away from the wall, he moved down the hallway, into the studio and opened the closet door.
He expectedwell, he didnt really know exactly what he expected, but it wasnt the sight that greeted him.
Danielle had fallen asleep among a throng of stuffed animals his sisters used during photo shoots for kids.
But as the light fell on her, she sat straight up blinking sleepy eyes, looking dazed, rumpled and a little confused.
And sexy. Very sexy.
Did you really fall asleep? He refused to let his eyes soak in the very arousing sight of her lying stretched out over stuffed toys. She should have looked ridiculous, but instead, looked warm andinviting, as though if he pressed in and joined her, shed welcome him by leaning back and opening her arms. Shed wrap those bare arms and legs around him and-
Was he looking for me?
He looked into her eyes, the color of an approaching storm. You know he was.
With her hair falling over her shoulders, she set aside the stuffed teddy bear shed been hugging. I couldnt hear what you were saying out there.
Its hard to hear when youre asleep.
I wasnt.
But she had been, and all he could think was, what kind of exhaustion could override being sought out by the police? I think we should start at the beginning, Danielle.
The beginning?
Is Sadie that rare?
She followed his finger to the blissfully sleeping Sadie. Yes.
What makes her so?
She stroked the dog. Shes called a typey dog.
Meaning?
Meaning, as I told you before, she shows all the characteristics of her breed to maximum effect. Its her coloring, its as perfect as theres been in a hundred years. Her marking, the black outlining, the stripes? Its as the breed was originally intended. She wins shows on her appearance alone.
Lots of money involved with that winning?
No. Her mouth twisted wryly. Silly as it sounds to someone not in the business, its not about the money. Its about prestige. Glory.
Ah. Nick looked at Sadie and tried to imagine glory in running the dog around a ring filled with spectators and dog crap.
Sadie has that prestige and glory, and she gives it to whoever has her.
Nick rubbed his temples. So whats the story here? You havent murdered anyone, or physically hurt anyone. We got that far.
Danielle climbed out of the closet. At the loss of her beloved masters body heat, Sadie lifted her head, yawning so widely it seemed she could swallow a mans head whole. Then, realizing she was alone in the closet, she scrambled to all fours, only to slip. Without breaking stride, she was up and trying again, her toenails scratching the floor as she clamored for purchase where there was none to be had.
Slow down, sweetie, Danielle murmured, reaching out to stroke her massive head.
When the dog had finally freed herself, she leaned against Danielle, who staggered under the weight before bracing her legs farther apart.
Sadie rubbed her head against Danielles belly, making Danielle smile at Nick sadly. She loves me.
I can see that. For a moment, a very brief moment, he wondered what it was like to be the object of such deep love and devotion. But then he imagined how much the dog must eat a day-and excrete-and shuddered.
He was not a dog owner and was quite satisfied with that.
Danielle patted Sadies head. Her own hair was a mess, and she had a crease across one cheek where shed lain her head on a teddy bear but as she leveled that somber smile on Nick, his heart simply stopped.
Then her smile slowly faded. I stole Sadie. I co-owned her with a man. My boyfriend.
Nick didnt know which was more disturbing. The fact hed lied to the police over a damn dog or that Danielle had a boyfriend.
Not that he should care one way or another. He had his own life, a good one. He even had hot dates lined up. Dates that wouldnt require thinking, wondering, dreaming or yearning.
Given that Danielle required all of that and more, he ought to show her the front door.
When we broke up, she said, Ted wanted Sadie.
Theyd broken up.
Shes worth money, Danielle admitted. But for Ted, its all about the glory. Shes a champion, and her bloodlines are incredible. He expected me to breed her, handle her descendants.
Nick shook his head. This is a custody battle. He couldnt believe it. Over a dog?
Its more than that, Nick.
Obviously, or the cops wouldnt be out looking for you. So what did you do, steal her from him in the middle of the night? Did you also accidentally steal his cash and silver, too?
Her eyes flashed. I took Sadie and only Sadie. But I had a good reason.
This was bad. Hed gotten in the middle of some silly dog dispute. And why? Because he remembered her fondly from one night well over a decade before. Because he was an idiot. So Ted saw her as investment property and you see her as your first-born?
Worse. She looked as if she didnt have a friend in the world. She look as if she might cry at any second, and Nick let out a long breath, a complete sucker for a female in distress.
For this female in distress. He had no idea why just their brief, all-too-long-ago connection should still matter as much as it did. Im sorry, he said over his better sense, but she looked troubled, alone, and damn it, scared. No way could he turn from that. Tell me the rest.
I broke up with Ted when I could no longer ignore his possessiveness.
There was a note in her voice that got his full attention now. Sadie was sitting on her haunches at Danielles feet, twin strands of drool coming from either side of her open mouth. She was panting, her tongue hanging out, watching Danielle with hero worship. Danielle put her hand on the dogs wide head and sighed. It got ugly, and I discovered something else about him.
He had a temper, Nick guessed, feeling sick.
When she slowly nodded her head, he stepped close, very gently putting a hand on her arm. Danielle-
It started when Sadie lost a dog show. It was so hot that day, and quite frankly, she just got bored. Ted really wanted to win that one because his biggest competition was there watching, but yelling at her wasnt the answer. And then afterward Sadie limped, like her hip was bothering her. She was really skittish. She looked down at Sadie with defeat. I think he kicked her.
You think? Or you know?
I just know. Her voice wavered. And then a week later she wouldnt get into her crate when he wanted and I caught him at it. I saw him kick her.
Nick looked into Sadies dark, doggie eyes and tried to imagine anyone kicking a dog that came up to his hips and nearly outweighed him. Not that it mattered. Nick happened to hate violence with a passion, especially against the innocent, and as big as Sadie was, she was an innocent. In as calm a voice as he could manage, he asked, And you? Were you being abused, too?