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“While that’s going on,” Bob said as he moved to the chair near Nutsbe. “We need to talk about Beowolf’s actions in the courtroom. You gave me the rundown while you were driving back to Iniquus. Have you caught Titus and Thorn up?”
“I did. You look concerned,” Nutsbe observed.
“I have to admit that this isn’t something that has come up in the two years of service to the courts. We’ve chosen the court dogs on our roster because none of them plays a security role per se. They aren’t guard dogs. Valor and Truffles are strictly search and rescue, Hairyman is a stability service dog, and then there’s Beowolf.”
“I think Beowolf served his function, psychological support,” Nutsbe said.
“I agree. But today,” Bob said. “he also intervened to protect the witness from the accused.”
“He intervened to protect the judge from being pummeled by a madman,” Nutsbe countered.
“I’m not saying what he did was the wrong choice.” Bob leaned back in his chair and pulled an ankle over his knee. “From a dog handler’s point of view, Iniquus K9s are trained to do jobs that complement their DNA. Our tactical dogs’ favorite day is when they get to bite the bad guy. It’s when they’re best aligned with their genetic purpose. Beowolf’s genetic purpose is to stop the poacher through submission. And that’s what he did today for the first time in a real-world or a training situation. We avoided allowing that to happen, just like some people try to avoid letting their dogs get that first taste of blood.”
“All right,” Nutsbe rubbed his thumbs in circles on Beowolf’s head.
“Today lit up his bullmastiff DNA. Now, if in the future Beowolf deems it necessary to protect the lawyer, the handler, the witness, or all three, I believe he could act of his own accord as he did today.”
“You could train him not to, though,” Nutsbe asserted.
“I have to get with Reaper Hamilton and have a talk about this. I’m not sure that Beowolf can go into courts anymore.” Bob stood. “But it sounds like it was mayhem. I’m glad he was there today to give you an assist.” Bob held out his hand to shake Nutsbe’s. “I’ll take Beowolf back to the kennels with me. The vet always likes to look the dogs over after a violent event. Thanks for stepping in and doing this, man. I know this wasn’t in your comfort zone.” Bob stooped to pick up the lead, patted his leg, and said, “With me.”
It was a kick in the gut watching Beowolf walk out the door.
When the door closed behind Bob, Titus said, “Going back to what we were talking about. Olivia’s car was tracked by a pod?”
“What do you make of that?” Nutsbe asked.
Titus pulled his vibrating phone from his pocket. “Titus here.” After listening he ended the call looking at Nutsbe. “Thanks for the information. We’ll do what we can.” The phone went back in his pocket. “Sy Covington.”
“I’m making his life hard these last couple of days,” Nutsbe said.
“Our PR department is getting media calls. He suggests that you keep your head down. Let the news cycle turn to the next shiny object. This is twice in as many days, two judges.”
“They have word on Judge Greenway?” Nutsbe asked. There wasn’t anything in the news when he’d scrolled.
“He’s in a second surgery, trying to keep his leg.” He paused as Nutsbe took that hit. “Nutsbe, the man’s alive because you risked your life. Another thirty seconds without that tourniquet, and he’d be gone. You should be lauded as a hero, but you need to keep your name and face out of the media.”
“I would do that anyway. I don’t need that kind of attention. I just did the thing that needed doing. It’s hopeful for his leg?” Nutsbe asked.
“I don’t have anything beyond that. Covington’s office is in contact with the family. I’m sure they’ll fill us in when they have more.”
“Good. Thanks.”
“The pod?” Titus asked.
“My money,” Thorn said, “is on hubby wanting to track Olivia’s movements to get her out of her house for that talk you interrupted.”
“Possibly.” Nutsbe’s gut said no. That didn’t mean he would ignore the chance that it was right. It was on his list. “My concern is that someone might have seen me drive away in her vehicle and associate that car with me.”
“Really? A blue sedan?” Thorn smirked.
“It’s a stretch that I’d buy that car. The point is that I was in the car. And I wasn’t always with the car. We took it to have the tire patched. For a time, it was parked at the far edge of the shop’s parking lot, out of view, while the guy worked in his bay. Olivia told me that her phone flashed the warning for the first time this morning as she drove to the courthouse. The person tracking might be trying to find me. If they were, they’d be close to my house since Olivia lives right behind me. I don’t want anyone to know where either of us lives. But, more importantly, I don’t want some Albanian to have hired some hitman to target me and find her by mistake.”
“That’s what you think is happening?” Titus asked.
“I’m stuck on the American throwing those ineffective Molotov cocktails in Germany. They didn’t hire the sharpest knife.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine