K-9 Unit Christmas—Valerie Hansen and Laura Scott, December 2018
I hope you have enjoyed the first book in the Military K-9 Unit continuity series. When I was asked to be a part of this editor-created project, I was elated and nervous. This is my first foray into writing about military heroes, both two-legged and four. I have the utmost respect and admiration for our military-service women and men. In writing this novel, I called upon many experts and ex-military personnel for help and guidance. Please forgive any and all mistakes as some creative license was taken for the sake of the story.
Developing the characters of Westley and Felicity was both fun and challenging. I needed them to be strong, honorable and brave, but vulnerable enough to let down the walls around their hearts and fall in love. Each came to the story with old wounds that needed to be healed before they could find their happy ending. Westley was afraid he would repeat the patterns of behavior modeled to him by his parents. And Felicity battled with insecurity, which kept her from permitting anyone to get close. But love softened their hearts and allowed them both to be open to a future together.
Through the next seven books you will find more stories of romance and mystery as the men and women of the fictional Canyon Air Force Base fall in love and bring down the Red Rose Killer. Enjoy!
Blessings,
Terri Reed
Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
—Psalms 139:23–24
This book is dedicated to the Military Working Dogs and the service women and men who defend our country.
Thank you to my editors, Tina James and Emily Rodmell, for including me in this series and for your support and patience. Thank you to the other authors who gave me so much encouragement during a difficult time. Thank you to Leah Vale for your never-ending friendship. And thank you to my family for your unconditional love.
Contents
The back door of Canyon Air Force Base’s military working-dog training facility stood open. It should have been closed and locked tight.
Alarm slithered through lead trainer Master Sergeant Westley James like the venomous red, yellow and black coral snake inhabiting this part of Texas.
Something was wrong.
As he entered the building an eerie chill went down his neck that had nothing to do with the April early-morning air. The stillness echoed through the center as loud as a jet taking off. His pulse spiked. He rushed to the kennel room and drew up short.
The kennels were empty. All of them.
Lying on the floor in a pool of blood were the two night-shift dog trainers, Airman Tamara Peterson and Airman Landon Martelli. Each had been shot in the chest.
Grief clutched at Westley’s heart. Careful not to disturb the scene, he checked for pulses. None.
They had both been murdered.
Under the left arms of Tamara and Landon were a red rose and a folded white note, the calling card of a notorious serial killer.
Horror slammed into
