Dale Mayer [Mayer - Lucas (The K9 Files Book 5)

The K9 Files, Book 5

Dale Mayer

Ethan, Book 1

Pierce, Book 2

Zane, Book 3

Blaze, Book 4

Lucas, Book 5

Parker, Book 6

Carter, Book 7

It takes an army to make a book like this one, and that army also needs love and attention. Often it comes in the form of a furry friend. This book is dedicated to Lionel, a beloved pet of one of my beta readers whos worked with me for years. Lionel went to the wonderful cat home in the sky this last week and hell be sorely missed.

Thanks for being such a devoted friend while here on earth! Youll be sorely missed.

Welcome to the all new K9 Files series reconnecting readers with the unforgettable men from SEALs of Steel in a new series of action packed, page turning romantic suspense that fans have come to expect from USA TODAY Bestselling author Dale Mayer. Pssst youll meet other favorite characters from SEALs of Honor and Heroes for Hire too!

The world of dogfighting is an ugly place

When Tophat, a missing K9 dog, is accidentally sent to Canada as part of a group of rescued dogs looking for adoption, Lucas knows hes the natural pick for this job. Plus he has another reason to be in the country. His sister lives there, and so does his ex-fiance.

But when he arrives, Lucas finds Tophat was handed over to a trainer who deals with aggressive dogs. The news isnt good, especially after Lucas arrives at the trainers property and is thrown into the dark underworld of dogfighting.

Tanya used to share her home with her two best friends, until one was killed in a hit-and-run and the other badly injured. Now living alone in a small apartment, Tanya realizes how much shes lostincluding Lucas. Unexpectedly seeing him flips her world once more

As Lucas digs deeper into Tophats disappearance, the dogfighting ring rises up to protect their own

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G eir sat down in the boardroom beside Jager and Badger. Well, that appears to have been a success, he said. I just heard through the grapevine that Blaze has found Solo.

Not only found Solo, Jager said with a chuckle, but he also found a woman named Camilla, and apparently, were having almost as much luck with our teams relationships as Levi and Mason are with theirs.

I didnt expect to become a matchmaking service, Badger said, but, with Kat around, its hard not to be.

She does want to see everybody as happy as she is, Geir said. And thats kudos to you.

No. I think its kudos to all of us, Badger said. So, four War Dogs are all good, eight more to go. Anybody got any suggestions about who or where next?

I was flipping through these files, Geir said. The dogs are all over the place.

Thatll make it more difficult, Jager said. So far weve been picking dogs that matched men and where they needed to be. I didnt tell Blaze that I knew about his need to return to Kentucky, but, when I saw the dog was from that same area, I figured that was a perfect match. But I dont know of any other matches.

Geir shuffled through the files, picked up one, and said. Top Hat. Love that name. The file photo revealed a shepherd with lighter coloring, but his neck was all dark, like he wore an ascot. While impressive in size, those expressive eyes were filled with life. He smiled as he looked at it and tapped the photo. Every time I look at that pic, I think that guy has got to be in a circus or something.

Hardly. From what I heard, Top Hat had an aggressive tendency that was hard to control, Badger said. Hes the one that worries me because chances are hes been put down already.

I dont know about that, Geir said. I think these dogs are survivors. Theyve handled a lot. I cant imagine theyll give up now.

Maybe not give up, Jager said, but it doesnt mean itll be easy for them to adapt to civilian life. We need the right person for this one.

Top Hats in Canada. He was somehow shipped with a large group of rescue dogs to Alberta, Badger said with a shake of his head.

Which is miles and miles of a whole lot of nothing. A couple big cities and lots of small towns. With farmers in between. Or is that Saskatchewan? Whatever, Geir said. Besides, just because Top Hat ended up in Alberta doesnt mean hes still there.

Thats true enough, Badger said. We can attempt to uncover more intel, but do we know anybody with connections up there that could cut through a lot of that random research and footwork?

Lucas does, Geir said. His sister married a Canadian.

So it might be time for him to have a family visit.

But lets get real, Jager joked. Canada is massive, and just because some guys sister married a Canadian doesnt mean the dog is anywhere close by.

No. Not at all, Badger agreed. But it also doesnt mean it isnt time for Lucas to visit his sister, and, in the meantime, well get some intel and try to find out where the dog ended up. Badger looked at Geir, who just grinned broadly at them. Okay, Geir. What do you know that we dont?

Lucass sister is in Medicine Hat, Alberta, he said. She married the son of a farmer.

See? What did I tell you? Jager said, rolling his eyes.

It doesnt mean Lucas wants to go home and doesnt mean Lucas even gives a damn about dogs, Jager added.

No, maybe not, but he was search and rescue for years. The whole family is heavily involved in it. I think his father used to train search and rescue dogs.

Wow, Badger said, rubbing his hands together. It sounds like we have our next success story.

Is he married? Jager asked. Because that will completely change things.

Was engaged, Geir replied. Something blew up between the two of them, and they separated. I know its been eating at him for months and months. She lives close to his sister. The two are friends.

Oh, interesting, Badger said. Even more reason for him to return and settle thiseither to break free or to get back together with her.

I dont think getting back together is an option, Geir said, but one never knows.

What do you guys think? Should we try it?

Why not? Lets bring him in, and see what he thinks.

L ucas Scott had used lesser excuses to head up to visit his sister and brother-in-law, but this was the weirdest. Here he would be searching for a K9 military dog, a former War Dog, that had somehow been caught up in a group of rescue dogs and shipped to Canada.

He never really understood how that worked, but his research had pinpointed the fact that hundreds of rescue dogs were taken to Canada for adoption as they had a better reception up there than down South. It bothered him to a certain extent because hed like to think of his people taking care of their own animals. However, when it came to a War Dog being a rescue, and one unlikely to be adopted in his own country, even after all the dog had done to keep his own country safewell, that wasnt cool, and, from what Lucas heard, the dog was unstable and potentially dangerous.

Yet, he immediately focused on the picture in the file. That dog was not unstable and dangerous. Lucas could see it in his eyes. Even in a photo. So how in the hell could someone in their right mind see that dog in real life and deem him unstable? Lucas shook his head.

That could also be the handlers problems. These War Dogs were impeccably trained, but not everyone knew how to handle them.