“These folks must be rolling in money.” He remarked to Ian
Ian glanced over at him. “More money than Croesus. And tight as a tick with it on top of that.” He slowed the truck as they came even with the monstrous house.
“No.” Gage said, listening to his instincts. “Go up to the kennels.”
Ian cut his eyes over. “Are you sure? We might get on the wrong side of them if we go up there without one of them as escort.”
“Ian. Trust me. I have this instinct that I’ve always listened to and never been sorry. If it turns out to be wrong this time, I’ll take the blame.”
After another moment, Ian pressed the accelerate, taking them past the house and up the hill.
As they rolled to a stop in a gravel area between the two buildings, a silver haired man exited one of the buildings, and with an angry look on his face, stomped toward them.
“Old man Summerall.” Ian said.
But Gage had already figured that out. This man was the one ruling the roost.
Gage jumped out of the truck and met the man halfway.
“What do you think you’re doing?” The man asked in a harsh voice. “The two of you are trespassing.” He glanced past Gage. “You know better, Ian Elliott. You’re from around here and you know we don’t cotton to anyone just showing up snooping around out here.”
Before Gage could reply, Ian stepped up beside him.
“Yes. Mr. Summerall, I do know how you conduct business out here. But Holly Grace Hill is missing and we’re out here to see if you’ve seen her. Or if anyone who works out here has seen her.”
The silver haired man stomped up to them, putting a finger in Gage’s chest. “Y’all get off my property. I haven’t seen anyone who doesn’t belong here.”
Over the older man’s shoulder, Gage saw a young woman exit the second building. A cacophony of dogs barking sounded before she shut the door cutting off the sound.
“What’s going on out here, Grandpa?” She asked as she strolled over to their group.
Gage took in a deep breath, prepared to do whatever it took to get a tour of all the buildings. His instincts were singing so loud he was surprised the others couldn’t hear it themselves.
Before he could speak, he heard a distant shout. He held up his hand silencing the surprised old man, and the not so surprised young woman. The distant sound came again. Like a woman shouting or screaming. Coming from the building the young woman had exited.
“I think you should take us through the building you just came out of.” He said to the woman. “It sounds like there’s someone in trouble.”
She sniffed. “There’s nothing going on. Sometimes the dogs sound like a human when they’re behind walls like that.”
Ian stepped up, locked eyes with Gage, sending a message Gage had no trouble understanding.
“Now, Mindy. I don’t recall that those dogs have ever sounded like humans.” Ian said to the woman. Her grandfather stood to the side with a puzzled look on his face.
Gage took full advantage of their focus on his friend and sprinted to the door of the building in question. Yanking the door open, he began shouting for Holly Grace. Which wasn’t the best idea under the circumstances because the dogs housed in the building set up barking and howling so loud that he couldn’t hear anything but them.
Scanning the building he saw it consisted of a center isle with cages on each side, ending in a door in the far wall. Sprinting, he made short work of the distance to the door.
He wrenched the deadbolt on the door and swung it open.
Holly Grace jumped into his arms. He swung her up and carried her out of the building to the gravel parking area.
The silver haired old man gaped at them while his granddaughter looked angry.
“What the hell, Mindy?” Ian asked angrily.
“She reported us to the authorities. Said we’re running a puppy mill out here. I just wanted to scare her. I didn’t hurt her at all.”
“You’re going to jail, Ms. Summerall. And I will personally see to it that you are prosecuted to the fullest extend the law allows. You just stay right where you are until the local law enforcement gets out here to officially arrest you.”
