Free Only Her (A K2 Team Novel) by Sandra Owens

asked.
    “Not right away, but yeah. I can’t wait to have a little Charlie running around the house, chasing Mr. Bunny while driving Charlie crazy. It’s gonna be fun.”
    “Mr. Bunny?”
    Ryan grinned. “Our rabbit.”
    “Get out. You have a pet rabbit?” As Ryan told the story of how that came about, Cody’s mind drifted back to Riley. Although he hadn’t planned to, later tonight, when they decided where to get rooms, he would call her to find out how her trip to the dog park went. Just a friendly phone call, that was all. He snorted.
    “Let’s see if we can learn something new,” Ryan said as he pulled into the convenience store parking lot.
    Thirty minutes later, they were back in the car. The only new thing they had learned was that before pulling out an antique gun and demanding all the money, the kid had brought a bottle of water to the counter and had asked how far Storm Lake was.
    After leaving the convenience store, they stopped by the police department, and after a phone call between Kincaid and the Sac City police chief, they were allowed to view the videotape confiscated from the store’s security camera. Sure enough, it was their boy.
    Justin Tramore, age seventeen, had politely asked his question, and after the answer was given, he’d pulled a turn-of-the-century Colt Single Action .38 from behind his back, pointing it at the clerk. “I’m sorry,” he’d said on his way out the door, after the clerk had handed over a little under two hundred dollars.
    “At least he was polite about robbing the man,” Cody said. He shouldn’t feel sorry for the boy, but he did.
    Ryan turned the car toward Storm Lake. “Tell it to the judge.” He glanced at Cody. “What’s your take?”
    “Last place he used his dad’s credit card was when they arrived in Fort Dodge, and that was at a burger joint, of all things. I’m guessing it was about that time it occurred to them the card could be traced. They ran out of money, thus the robbery.”
    “My thinking, too.”
    “They’re probably feeling a little desperate by now, which makes them unpredictable. Don’t like that they have a gun.” Cody scratched at the tingling going on at the back of his neck.
    “Yeah, me either.” Ryan slowed the car as they drove into Storm Lake. The sun was setting, and it looked like the town was closing up for the night. “Let’s find a place to get something to eat before they roll up the sidewalk.”
    “I could go for a steak and baked potato with the works.”
    Ryan put on his blinker and turned into a parking lot. “Ask and ye shall receive.”
    Turned out the steak house was open until ten, and the food was good.

    After a shower, Cody checked the time. Nine-thirty shouldn’t be too late to call Riley. Wearing his favorite sweatpants, he settled on the motel room’s bed, stuffing the extra pillows behind his back. Phone in hand, he hesitated. Maybe he shouldn’t bother her. Things could get busy tomorrow, though, if they managed to find the kids, and he might not have a chance to check in. He called her.
    As he listened to the ring, he realized he wanted to hear her voice. He also admitted to himself that even though he couldn’t classify her as a girlfriend, if his head was in a better place, he’d be interested in a relationship with her. Very interested.
    He got her voice mail. Disappointed, he hung up without leaving a message.

    Riley washed the conditioner from her hair. The trip to the dog park had turned up nothing, which she hadn’t expected it to, but it was disappointing nevertheless. She had enjoyed playing with Cody’s dogs, while watching them closely to make sure they hadn’t eaten anything. She’d also posted several signs, warning owners to keep an eye on their animals and not to let them eat foods left behind by someone. It wasn’t her desire to panic anyone, but better a warning over seeing their dog get sick, or worse.
    A cup of hot tea in hand, she grabbed her latest book, and