Free Beowulf: Explosives Detection Dog by Ronie Kendig

out. Hogan, do something productive.” Ghost gave her a warning look. “Khat, thanks for your hard work.”
    Draped in heat and silence, the room seemed to throb. Timbrel tugged a sheet closer and aimed her gaze at it with the pretense of studying it.
    “So what happened over there?”
    Timbrel flinched. “What?”
    Khat’s laugh proved hollow. “While you and I haven’t exactly been BFFs”—she hooked her fingers in air quotes—“you’ve never treated me like … this. You’re very agitated, more so than normal.”
    Was she that obvious? Candyman had yanked her chain. Called her number. “Nothing.” Her gaze leapfrogged over the gala-planning pages, yet she saw nothing but her own humiliation.
    “Timbrel.” Soft and pliable, Khaterah’s chiding tone also exuded warmth and caring.
    Hard to breathe. Hard to function. “Look, I’m sorry I bit your head off. You don’t deserve that, and I was wrong to do it.” Timbrel shoved the chair back and stood.
    A firm but gentle hand on her arms stilled her.
    Timbrel froze. Felt the morbid drill of panic boring holes in her steel-reinforced cage that kept her from drowning in life.
    “He called.”
    Her heart crashed into her ribs, her gaze pulled by some unseen force to Khaterah. “He did?” Why were her eyes burning?
    “He thought he might have the wrong phone number for you. Said you hadn’t called him back.”
    She swallowed the gush of adrenaline. When she sensed Khaterah step closer, Timbrel turned away. “I … I think I’ll … take some names to call.” She scrunched a paper between her fingers.
    Khat’s hand covered hers. “What happened?”
    Timbrel shoved the emotion, the fright, the embarrassment over the cliff of denial. She mustered the smile her mother had perfected and taught her. “I’m not sure what you’re talking about.” She strode from the room. “I’ll make some calls.”
    “Timbrel.”
    She stopped cold.
    “Ghost told me not to tell you, but I think you should know.”
    Okay, that didn’t sound good. She slowly looked over her shoulder.
    “I did not want you to think I was mishandling the money or accounts here. I am very dedicated and loyal to my brother, but also to you handlers. For that reason, I think you should know.”
    “What?”
    “We had a benefactor for the hotel.”
    “Right. You’d said it was do … nate … ed.” Oh curse her foolish brain! Why hadn’t she thought of it before? She swung her head side to side, pained. “Please. Tell me you didn’t …”
    “It was an accident. Elysian Evangelos Industries is known for donations, so I called and talked to the chairman of the board of directors, who agreed to cover the cost of the hotel and a sizeable donation.”
    Timbrel groaned.
    “I promise, I had no idea she was your mother!”

    Leesburg, Virginia
    Tony dropped the rucksack by the washer and dryer, then eased the back door closed. He stepped through the mudroom. In the gourmet kitchen, he spotted his mother at the Viking stove, stirring a pot. From behind, in a T-shirt and capris, she could easily be taken for a twentysomething.
    He slipped up behind her and covered her eyes. “Guess who?”
    “Oh!” She yelped and jerked around. “Tony, you’re home!” She threw her arms around him and hugged him tight.
    Wrapping her in his arms, he held on. Man, there was nothing like a “mom” hug, no matter how old he got. And it seemed every mission that kept him away made her hugs all the sweeter.
    She pulled back and rested her hands on his shoulders. “Why didn’t you call? I could’ve picked you up.”
    “Eh, I knew you were busy.” He took in the nearly pristine granite countertops and cherrywood cabinets. Not a thing out of place. He’d never forget her face that day. “Still enjoying your kitchen?”
    “Immensely.” She planted a kiss on his cheek. “I still can’t believe you did this. It’s too much.”
    “No such thing as ‘too much’ for you.” He’d surprised her for her