Free Force of Attraction by D. D. Ayres

he’s slipped back into something illegal. Why draw attention to himself by breeding dogs known for their popularity in dogfighting if he intended to use them to smuggle drugs? Not smart.”
    â€œSmart?” Hadley’s bark of laughter sounded as rude as it was meant to be. “Smart’s not a category I’d put Collier in. He needs money. His music’s gone bust so he falls back into old habits. Pre-music enterprise, he dealt drugs. Once a slinger always a slinger.”
    â€œBut—”
    â€œWhen you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras, Officer Jamieson.” Lattimore gave her a sharp glance to see if she understood his meaning. Don’t look for unlikely possibilities when the probable answer is the obvious one. “Collier’s our prime suspect. His wife is our conduit to him.”
    â€œYes, sir.”
    Cole ignored the smirks exchanged around the table though her face stung. It wasn’t embarrassment, it was anger. They might know what they were doing as far as drugs and task force business went. But she knew dogs and their handlers. On Shajuanna’s side, at least, there was a genuine interest in and affection for her dogs.
    â€œWe need eyes and ears on the ground at dog competitions where the wife shows her dogs, something that will give up probable cause to go after them in a more aggressive way. Actually finding puppy drug mules at an event might be too much to hope for. But if any of the animals carried drugs at one time, or was kenneled with those who did, traces of cocaine should remain with them. The vet told us the packets aren’t always leakproof. The potency should leave a permanent trail.”
    â€œThat’s where our dogs come in.” Scott flashed a reassuring glance at Cole.
    â€œExactly. Officer Jamieson’s Bouvier des Flandres is one of the breeds registered to compete in dog sports. We’ll be using them to infiltrate the dog competitions. With her training experience they should pass inspection as competitorworthy. Meanwhile Agent Lucca’s K-9 will work drug detection backstage at the shows.”
    Refusing to make eye contact with Scott, Cole angled her chair toward the front of the room. “Why not go in separately, sir? There’s no need to pose as a couple.”
    â€œActually, there is. Being a couple keeps you and your partner from looking suspicious. You will be expected to have dogs with you wherever you go. The fact that Scott’s canine doesn’t compete won’t look suspicious if he’s paired with you. I’m told Shajuanna Collier’s a very outgoing young woman. Likes to chat with other dog handlers when on the road. The dog competition circuit is very clubby. You’ll be status seekers, new to the game, looking to learn the ropes. We need you to buddy up to Shajuanna. Get in. See what you can stir up.”
    Cole nodded. “How long do you expect this is going to take?”
    â€œThe faster you do your job the quicker it’s over. Two, three weekends of shows should be enough to tell us if this operation can yield anything of value.”
    Cole smiled. “So I’m home during the week? I can work my patrols?”
    â€œNo. You have to have a home base in case Shajuanna decides to befriend you.” Lattimore clicked through a few slides. “Lucky break for us, Shajuanna owns a home in Potomac, just off River Road, where she breeds her dogs.”
    â€œThat’s Montgomery County. My patrol area.”
    â€œBut you won’t be patrolling. Weekdays the two of you are to cozy up at home and work the dogs for the next show.”
    â€œGreat.”
    â€œShit.”
    Cole and Scott eyed one another, not sure who had said what. But, clearly, neither was happy about the proposed arrangements.
    â€œI’d prefer not to use Officer Jamieson’s home.” Scott didn’t glance at Cole. “It’s risky. What if something went wrong? She’d