Read Online Rival Forces by D. D. Ayres - Free Book Online Page A

deadly serious.
    Yardley’s heart stuttered. Bad news to be delivered by the subordinate?

 
    CHAPTER SEVEN
    The younger man, with crisp blondish hair and a slash for a mouth, paused out of range of the length of leash Yardley held. She couldn’t be certain that behind the shield of his sunglasses he watched Oleg warily. But his voice held a trace of tension as he spoke. “Ms. Summers?”
    She gathered up more of the leash to show she wasn’t about to set her K-9 on him. “Who’s asking?”
    â€œI’m Agent Glaser. And this is Agent Jackson. FBI.” He hitched a thumb over his shoulder before flipping open a badge. Yardley only saw a gold shield with an eagle on top before he flipped it closed and pocketed it. “We’d like to ask you a few questions.”
    â€œMay I see your badge?” Yardley’s heart skipped a beat as she felt Kye move in behind her. She really didn’t want an audience for this. The less he knew about her life, the better.
    As the agent reluctantly removed it for inspection Kye leaned in over her shoulder to get a look. “That’s DEA. What business could the Drug Enforcement Agency have with Harmonie Kennels?”
    Glaser glanced up sharply at Kye but directed his words at Yardley. “Can we go somewhere more private to talk, Ms. Summers?”
    Yard shook her head, her emotions doing a one-eighty at his words. Any story that began with Can we go somewhere more private … wasn’t going to end well. If this was bad news, she wasn’t going to be treated like a civilian who needed to be coddled when told a hard truth. The truth was, thanks to Law’s butting in, Kye already knew about David. No use trying to hide anything now. “This is my property. This is as private as I get.”
    â€œWhy don’t you just tell Ms. Summers why you’re here, Agent.” Kye’s voice was calm, almost friendly. But Yardley could tell by the way he moved in a little closer, as if to offer her the support of his presence without actually touching her, that he was feeling anything but friendly.
    Glaser glanced again at Kye. “Who are you?”
    â€œKye McGarren.”
    â€œMay I see some ID?”
    â€œNot unless you have a warrant.”
    Yard pressed her lips together as the testosterone cloud bloomed between the two men. She could look after herself. Always had. “I have things to do. State your business, Agent Glaser.”
    The agent gave her a small smile. “Can you tell me the last time you saw or heard from Dr. David Gunnar?”
    Yardley’s heart jumped. Oleg begin to whine, breathing through his mouth as he stared up at her. Emotion down the leash was working on him. Without realizing it, she had tightened her grip, and Oleg could sense the pressure building inside her. She let the leash out, certain now that something bad had happened to David. Why didn’t he just spit it out and put her out of her misery?
    â€œWhy are you asking?”
    The agent shrugged. “You made inquiries into Dr. Gunnar’s whereabouts a few weeks ago with the Department of Justice. I’d like to know why. How well do you know him?”
    Yardley made her expression bland and jutted out a hip to force a relaxed pose she did not feel. “We’re acquaintances.”
    Blondie smirked. “No more than that?”
    Kye reached forward and laid a possessive hand on her waist, fingers closing hard on that feminine curve, effectively startling Yardley into silence. “She knows him. Asked and answered. A friend goes missing, the other friend tries to find out why. Isn’t that right, sugar?”
    Sugar? Yardley tried to keep the astonishment out of her voice. “That’s right.”
    Agent Glaser’s gaze flicked to Kye’s hand then up his face. “Did you locate him, Ms. Summers?”
    â€œLocate?” Yardley’s pulse stuttered. “I was told by the FBI