Chapter 16
After eating and getting dressed for the day, he led me to the garage where Dean was waiting.
“Ms. Bennett, Harlon.” Dean nodded in acknowledgment as he opened the back door.
I smiled at him as I slid over leather seats. Waiting for Harlon to get settled, I asked, “How come you made me leave my wallet and purse upstairs if I’m supposed to be going shopping?”
“I brought you here under duress, so it’s my responsibility to see that you have everything you need. It’s the least I can do,” he said, picking up the awaiting newspaper.
“You’re going toPretty Womanme?”
“You aren’t a hooker, and you wouldn’t need a new dress if it wasn’t for me. So…” He snapped the newspaper open and cut off the conversation.
The ride through downtown New York was everything I thought it would be. Passing Times Square and the vendors selling their wares to the tourists made me wish I had a bit more time to explore beyond the two days remaining.
Knowing his sister was alive helped to ease some of the pressure I’d been feeling. But not being able to find her was starting to weigh me down. I clung to my sketchbook and pencils, the only things Harlon would let me bring on this excursion.
Dean paused outside an iron gate before it opened and we drove through rows of warehouses set inside a port area next to a river. Huge ships with stacks of containers sitting on their decks floated at the docks as we progressed toward a set of distant warehouses.
“What are we doing here?” I asked.
“Ruby is supervising the shipment of our next round of animals coming in to train.”
“You ship in the animals?”
“Some of them come in by boat, others by plane from all over the world. We bring them in and train them.”
“To become guard dogs?” I asked.
“That, and police or service dogs. We even specialize in training the animals to help with seizures and a few of the others are able to sniff out cancer.”
“Impressive,” I said.
“A few come in partially trained. That’s why some of the commands are in German or another language. Instead of trying to retrain the animal, it’s easier to have the new owner learn those specific words in the foreign language. Each case is individualized.”
The car rolled to a stop, and Harlon got out and held out his hand.
I slid my hand into his palm and got out of the car. Saltwater from the breeze caressed my face, contrasting with the smell of dead fish and sewage. The large warehouse’s doors stood open. The sound of barking dogs competed with the whine of running equipment.
Ruby was standing in the entrance with her trusty clipboard pressed against her chest. She watched as we approached.
“How did they appear?” Harlon asked.
“The shipment was short two Dobermans,” Ruby answered and led us down a row of large kennels that each held a dangerous-looking dog. “Five are semi-trained attack dogs.” Ruby stopped in front of a pair of growling animals. One was pawing the ground like an angry bull before all chaos ensued. The dog in the kennel next to it had started barking too.
I took an instinctual step back, and Harlon’s hand landed on my back.
“They smell fear,” he said.
“Why are they going crazy?” I asked.
Ruby glanced down at her clipboard. She scowled then jerked her head and gestured toward an office. “I know why. You two come with me.”
We followed her up a set of stairs to the glass-enclosed space. She closed the door. “Those two were trained in narcotics.” She glared at me and held out her hand. “Where are you hiding the drugs?”
“Me?” My hand flew to my chest. “I don’t do drugs, and I didn’t even bring in a purse.”
“Lift your shirt,” Ruby said.
