About This Book
Welcome to the all new K9 Files series reconnecting readers with the unforgettable men from SEALs of Steel in a new series of action packed, page turning romantic suspense that fans have come to expect from USA TODAY Bestselling author Dale Mayer. Pssst… you’ll meet other favorite characters from SEALs of Honor and Heroes for Hire too!
Returning to the town he was raised in was hard, except that Harley can once more see the only golden light of those days. He’d walked away from her because she’d been too young, and he would never be good enough. Harley was back to check on the War Dog Bowser, but Harley can’t help but feel like he never really left. But when Harley snags the War Dog from one of Bowser’s handlers, Harley knows he has to put a stop to this guy forever.
Over all these years Jasmine awaits Harley’s return, but he won’t be happy with the changes she’s gone through. When he shows up out of the blue, she knows only complete honesty will be good enough. But it was rough and meant opening up memories of a horrible time in her life.
Harley’s arrival prompts a hidden truth that someone will do anything to stop from coming out. And Harley will do everything he can to get justice for her …
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Prologue
Harley Bertram walked into Badger’s office. Geir and Erick were also there with Badger. Harley slumped into the chair, only to wince, and shifted his position.
“How are the injuries these days?” Erick asked.
“Much better than I expected.” Harley rotated his right wrist, then his left—a prosthetic. “Some of the surgeries did better than others.”
“But you’re handling the hammer just fine.”
“And the keyboards are getting easier too. So what’s up? Cade said that you were looking for me.”
“Any dog experience?”
Harley shrugged. “Outside of the fact that I love them, no.”
“No K9 experience in the military?” Badger asked.
“Assisting with the War Dogs, yes, but I never had my own. I worked with the training groups.” He sighed. “Man, they were good animals.”
Erick nodded. “Have you heard about the War Dogs that we’ve been trying to locate and to help?”
Harley frowned and shook his head. “I don’t know how I missed that because, honest to God, it’s hard to miss anything in this place.”
“True enough.” Cade walked into the room, with a folder. He tossed it on the table in front of Badger. “I’m not sure what we’ll do with this one.”
“I don’t know either.” Badger nodded. “I read it early this morning.”
“Read what?” Harley asked.
“So this is Bowser, a male War Dog. He was adopted and then sold.”
“Isn’t that against the terms of service in the adoption contract?”
“It absolutely is, but they didn’t seem to care.”
“What was he sold for?”
“As a security dog,” he replied.
“Well, that might not be such a bad life.”
“Maybe, except it looks like he’s in a possible grow op.”
“Oh no, not drugs. Those people treat the animals really rough.”
“Exactly,” Badger agreed. “So we want to make sure the dog’s being well treated, and, if it’s not, to remove him from the situation.”
“But, if they bought and paid for Bowser, they might not take too kindly to that suggestion.”
“He’s the property of the United States government. Adoptions are done on the basis where you are looking after the War Dog but do not get to own one.”
“Right, and if I get any resistance?”
The four men looked at him.
“Ah, so doesn’t matter what kind of resistance there is. I have a job to do.”
“Exactly.” Badger cocked his head. “Unless you got a problem with that.”
“Hell no,” Harley countered. “The fewer rules, the better. Whereabouts?”
“Montana. He’s set up near the Canadian border.”
Harley frowned. “I wouldn’t have thought the drug-running business or the cannabis business was really good up there.”
“Well, that’s why we’ve got a question mark on it. I’m not exactly sure what you’ll find there. But hopefully you’ll find our War Dog is a security dog in that location.”
“And legally sold, as far as the current owners know. That could be a bit tough. Any money to help buy back the dog?”
“Some, it just depends on what kind of money we’re talking about.”
“Right.” He stood. “And when do I go?”
“The sooner, the better. The locals contacted the War Dog department about the dog because another one showed up dead.”
“Another War Dog?”
“No, another dog and then they heard about this one, so they were asking if it was the same one.”
“And the answer, of course, is no.”
“I think they were also warning the War Dog department that the particular dog had been abused.”
“Great,” Harley muttered under his breath. “Do I get to carry weapons too?”
“What do you want?” Badger asked, with interest.
Harley reached out and flexed his hand. “I have a couple of my own.”
“I’ll get the permits,” Badger confirmed, “for travel. I don’t want you to go up against a cartel or some such thing without firepower.”
“The dog hasn’t been there all that long,” Cade noted. “You might get it on your side and turn it against its owners.”
“You know what the answer is for that then,” Harley muttered. “The drug-runners will just end up shooting it.”
“In that case why don’t you just shoot the drug-runners,” Cade suggested in a rough voice. “We’ve seen so many bad assholes in this world, but I get really pissed off when somebody hurts an animal.”
Harley stood, heading for the door. “I hear you. I’ll check it out and let you know what I find.” Harley stopped and looked back at Badger’s team. “Did you guys know that I spent ten years in Montana?” The men looked at him in surprise. He smiled. “I guess not.”
“When were you there?”
“I was a foster kid. I left because I was getting too attached to the family. It seemed like a good idea at the time. I turned eighteen and joined the navy. The history after that you know well.”
“What do you mean, too attached?” Badger asked curiously.
He nodded. “The foster family was not okay, but their daughter was dynamite.” And, with a wicked grin, he turned and walked out.
Badger called back. “Have you kept in touch with them?”
“No. I guess I will now though.”
“What’s her name?”
Harley laughed as he stuck his face back into the room. “Jasmine. She was the sweetest little thing. Although I wouldn’t say that to her face.” He shook his head. “She is just as likely to shoot me on sight right now.”