“Just some personal stuff that’s more annoying than it should be. That’s all.” Jenniffer smiled as she laid some money on the table.
“Tell you what, how about tomorrow, you put me out of my misery and help me with the doggie door when we get done with our training session. I’ll put steaks on the grill for us and you can inspect the house yourself.” Jack winked at Jenniffer who blushed at the gesture.
Dom had gotten up to use the restroom, trying to give Jack and Jenniffer some time alone to see if she’d talk about what was bothering her. Jack kept staring at her, watching the different emotions playing across her face as he waited for her response.
CHAPTERSIX
The group spent the next couple of days going over commands that work for both work and personal use with the dogs. Jenniffer spent the day watching the three officers working alongside their new partners. She wasn’t impressed with Officer Monroe’s actions. Jenniffer had to correct her form and use of the commands several times, advise her how to control Xena, who was not happy with her partner.
Several hours into the day, Jenniffer called a break, afraid that Xena was going to snap at her human. Huffing out a breath, she took Xena’s leash and walked her to a closed in lot. Xena knew it was the time out area for the dogs when they didn’t listen.
“Ok guys, take lunch. Come back in about an hour and a half and we’ll do some more work.” Jenniffer walked away without looking back, heading into her home, shutting the front door.
Leaning back against the door, she breathed in deep, holding her breath for several seconds before blowing it out. She tried, she really tried. Jenniffer gave Officer Monroe a couple of days to get on map where Xena concerned, but nothing seemed to work. She wouldn’t take the dog home, have much to do with Xena, struggles with her commands and controlling the dog.
Pushing away from the door, Jenniffer pulled out her phone and dialed the number for the chief of police, Chief Delbert Monroe.
“Jenniffer, how are you?”
“Hi Chief. Sorry I haven’t returned your calls. I know you wanted a report earlier, but I kept holding off thinking something will change, but today shows it’s not going to change. I’m sorry sir, but I really don’t think your daughter and Xena are going to be a good fit. I currently don’t have a different dog ready that I can set her up with.”
Jenniffer bit her thumbnail as she waited for the powerful man on the other end of the line to speak again. Her nerves went through the roof when she heard him sigh deeply.
“Thank you for being honest with me Jenniffer. I was afraid of this. I have another officer I’ll send over tomorrow. She was originally supposed to have that spot with the K-9 team, but my wife begged me to give my daughter another chance. I admit I spoiled her when I should have been a more of a strict parent. Officer Gilmore will be there tomorrow. She’s a damn good officer and hopefully a good fit for Xena. Continue with the other two you’re working with now. I’ll deal with my daughter myself.”
Jenniffer hung up the phone, her head leaning back against the wall. One problem down, one more to go. She was really getting tired of having to fight for everything lately.
Jenniffer jumped when there was a loud knock on her door. Taking several deep breaths to calm herself, she turned to open the door and nearly screamed when she realized it was Jack standing there.
“The hour isn’t up yet, Officer Axelson. Is everything ok?”
She had to fight the urge to not backtrack or shrink when she saw Jack’s eyebrow quirk at her question. Especially since they had gotten into an easy friendship through the week.
The last couple of days, they had been able to relax around each other, including Officer Pratt, who she figured was the quiet ladies’ man out of the two. She’d helped both men put in their doggie doors, watched them form their relationship with their new K-9 partners and answered any and all questions they had while they ate dinner, which both men grilled once the doggie doors were in.
While they were putting in Dom’s door for Hercules, she’d met his sister and brother-in-law and watched him with his nieces and nephews, who also seemed to dote on Jack as well. She loved the closeness between the tight knit group. She’d realized she smiled and laughed more in these last few days than she had in the last four years since her life changed.
“Hey! Are you ok, Jenn?” Jack asked, worry sounding in his voice.
“Yeah, just needing a few moments alone. What can I help you with?” Jenniffer asked, trying to sound like she was fine.
“Um, there’s a guy out here saying he’s here to serve you with paperwork. Dom is dealing with him now. You sure everything is ok? We know he works for the courts. Talk to me.”
“Shit! She’s going to fucking drive me insane with her continuous bullshit! Give me a minute.” Jenniffer huffed as she stormed past him and down the steps.
Walking towards Dom who was standing in front of a portly, bald-headed man, his arms crossed as if he was her guard, she patted his arm when she walked up beside him. “Dave, what am I being served with now?”
The portly, older man whom Jenniffer had gotten to know over the last several months, due to the paperwork’s he’s been delivering to her via the courts, looked at her bashfully. “Sorry, Ms. Jenniffer, looks like it’s another lawsuit from the same woman. I hate doing this, but I have a job to do.”
Jenniffer sighed as she took the paperwork from Dave, giving him a soft smile. “You’re fine Dave. It’s not your fault this woman can’t accept the last ruling and being advised to stop. I’ll talk to my attorney to see if we can’t get something against her for harassment, slander and whatever else she’s doing. Too bad I can’t request a DNA test to prove if the kid was Jeff’s to get her to stop this shit.”
“I gave Davidson a heads up before I came here. He knows to be expecting your call on this one. He’s already doing research on what to do. You ever file that police report for those incidents around the property? I wouldn’t put it past this woman to be behind all that, too.”
Jenniffer sighed, the events of the past two years weighing heavily on her. “Yeah, but the officer I spoke with didn’t take it seriously. Said I should put up cameras. Made the comment it was probably the dogs or just kids curious about the dogs. I haven’t had the funds to put up the cameras that he suggested due to these damn lawsuits she’s constantly filing. I’m barely staying afloat as it is. I’m still in the black, but dangerously close to the red thanks to this shit.”
Jenniffer opened the latest paperwork that Dave had served her, oblivious to the two men standing behind her, or the fact that Dom had walked Dave back to his car, leaving Jack alone with her.
“What’s going on Jenn?” Jack asked, watching her read the paperwork she had just received.
