Free Operation Blind Date by Justine Davis Page B

fairly trumpeting love and joy all over, and watching their last two clients, Kayla and Dane Burdette, who had been in love since childhood, nearly lose themselves then put it back together again, he supposed it was inevitable that everyone not settled would feel a bit unsettled.
    And that last phrase sounded so silly even in his head that he clamped down further on his errant thoughts.
    As they disembarked from the ferry and headed toward Foxworth, Teague pondered the fact that Laney hadn’t mentioned going back to the police with this latest bit of information. He wondered if she thought it wouldn’t make any difference, or if she was concerned about how they’d gotten the data.
    “Our concern is finding Amber,” he finally said once they were on the road that led back toward the less populated areas. “And only that.”
    “Thank you for that,” she said, her voice wobbling just slightly. Teague went on as much to reassure her as to explain.
    “Chain of evidence or procedural protocols aren’t limitations for us. We do things aboveboard and in ways that will help the police when we can, but our bottom line isn’t theirs. We worry about the victims, not what will stand up in court.”
    That seemed to steady her. She nodded in almost fierce agreement.
    “What about the bad guys?” she asked.
    “We have our own ways of dealing with them, too. Quinn’s the toughest guy you’ll find when it comes to people who hurt innocents.”
    “Because he was one of the victims, once,” she said.
    “And he doesn’t like anybody feeling the way he did then. Helpless. Like nobody’s doing the right thing, like nobody cares about anything except their own agenda or advancement. Backroom deals that make the dealers feel good but hurt the people they’re supposed to protect set him off like nothing I’ve ever seen.”
    “I think I quite admire Quinn and his foundation.”
    “So do I,” Teague said.
    “You’re rightfully proud to be part of it.”
    He smiled at that as he made the last turn, onto the road that would take them back to Foxworth.
    “Did that make it easier to leave the service?”
    The unexpected question threw him. “Nothing could make that easy,” he said, his tone sharp.
    “I didn’t say easy. I said easier.”
    Abashed, he muttered a quick “Guess I’m still a little touchy about it. But yes, if it wasn’t for Foxworth I probably would have stuck it out. And had to numb myself to the realities of what was happening around me.”
    She said nothing more, and a few minutes later he was parking in Foxworth’s gravel lot outside the green building. In less than a minute the door swung open and Cutter came racing out. Seconds later his dark head was at her window, his intense gaze fixed on her as she smiled at the dog.
    “Is he always the first to greet visitors?”
    “You’re not a visitor to him. You’re his personal concern until this is resolved.”
    She blinked. “You really do take him seriously.”
    “We’ve seen what happens if we don’t,” Teague said wryly. “Liam’s family breeds dogs.... He grew up with dozens of them over the years. He says Cutter’s not really a dog, he’s some sort of alien form of intelligence that’s taken on dog form.”
    Laney laughed as she opened the door and Cutter greeted her happily with a swipe of his tongue over her chin, a wag of his tail, and a short, excited little dance on his paws. She reached out and stroked his head, then curved her fingers to get to that spot below his right ear that made him practically wiggle when she scratched it.
    She definitely had the Cutter stamp of approval, he thought.
    And he’d be crazier than a loon to make something out of that.
    “Teague?”
    Quinn’s voice boomed down the stairwell as they stepped inside.
    “Here,” he called back.
    “Thought that was your bark. Come on up, we’ve got something.”
    “Your bark?” Laney asked as they started up the stairs, Cutter leading the way.
    He laughed,