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raised
his head, acknowledging that he knew Kelly was talking about him.
    “I’ve got some marijuana
at the station. I’m holding it as evidence in a pending case. I suppose we
could see if he reacts to it. I’m curious now, too. I’m going to go get it. Be
back in ten minutes.”
    “Great. I need to put
everything in the oven anyway, so take your time,” she said, standing up and
opening the door. “See you shortly.”
    Mike was back within
minutes, holding a plastic bag containing marijuana. As soon as he opened the
door, Rebel walked over to him and began growling. The guard hairs all along
his back were raised, creating a line of jet black. He sat back on his haunches
and continued to growl.
    “Well, that’s about all
the proof I need. Only problem is, if he finds something, I wonder if it would
stand up in court. You didn’t train him and you don’t know whether or not he
was trained by some agency. Do you still have the name of the family you got
him from?”
    “No. After the officer’s
death, they left the area. That’s why I got Rebel. They couldn’t take him with
them. I have no idea where they went. I don’t even know the agency the
narcotics officer was with. Sorry.”
    “Well, it’s a start. Think
I’ll take him with me next time I go out to the ranch and see if anything
happens.”
    “Mike, that’s not
realistic. What are you going to tell Jeff if Rebel suddenly runs out into the
acreage? No, we need to come up with something else. I’ve got an idea.”
    He listened to her idea
and between them, they fine-tuned it. It wasn’t perfect and there was some
danger involved, but it was all they could come up with.
    As they were finishing
dinner, Mike’s phone rang. “Hi, Doc. Is the autopsy report available? It is?
Great.” He listened for a moment. “Yes, I can come to your office. Be there in
about ten minutes. Thanks.”
    “Sorry, Kelly,” he said,
pushing his chair back from the table. “Loved the meal, but it looks like
business calls. Hold the cheesecake. You know it’s one of my favorites. That
was the county coroner and he wants to give me the results of the report in
person. That seems odd. Wonder what he’s found out? Must be important if he
wants to tell me about it in person. If her death was caused by drowning and a
blow to the head, which we already know, I’d think he would have told me over
the phone. I’ll try and call you later, but it may be too late. If I can’t call
you tonight, I’ll check with you in the morning. Forget about our plan for the
Black’s ranch for now. We’ll try it another time. There’s no hurry and I sure
don’t want you going out there alone.”
    Kelly stood at the window
and watched as Mike’s car pulled away. Are you crazy , she thought? This
is the first time since this whole thing began that I can do something that
might be helpful.
    She turned and looked at
Rebel. “Rebel, let’s go. We’re going to see if Mike’s right about what’s going
on out at the Black’s ranch.”
     

CHAPTER 6
     
    As quietly as possible, headlights
extinguished, Kelly drove the minivan up the long gravel driveway leading to
the Black’s ranch house. Even in the darkening light, she couldn’t help but
notice the magnificent view from the house and ranch. Sensor lights came on
almost immediately, bathing the entire area in a bright blue light.
    “Well, Rebel, so much for
my grand plan to sneak onto the property and see if you smell any drugs. Don’t
think we’re going to get very far with that plan. Tell you what; I’ll let you
out on the side closest to where the trees are. Let’s see if you smell
anything. I’ll pretend that I stopped by to see how Brandon is doing.”
    She got out of her minivan
and opened the passenger side for Rebel. He sniffed and just as he’d done
earlier in the evening, his hackles went up and he started growling. Kelly took
a deep breath and almost gagged from a revolting odor.
    Good grief, how can they
stand that