Page 40 of Pretty Broken Dolls

“Yes.”

“Jeanine Trenton.” As she began, she noticed the sergeant light up. “You knew Jeanine Trenton?”

“Yes.”

“I understand she was a dog trainer.”

“Yes. She was very competent and had some experience before applying for the position. She put in her tour here at the kennels as a trainer. She had the opportunity to be a handler abroad, but she turned it down.”

“Was she ever written up for any disciplinary issue?”

“No.”

“Did she confide in you or someone else that anyone was harassing or bothering her?”

The sergeant hesitated.

“Please, Sergeant, anything might be helpful to us.” Katie had the distinct feeling that the sergeant knew Jeanine Trenton more than just as a fellow army officer.

“Since she was a trainer, she encountered all types coming through this training facility. Both men and women.”

Katie noticed the tension in his words. “What are the average numbers of recruits dropping from the program?”

McGaven kept quiet, allowing his partner to take the lead in interviewing the sergeant. He decided to venture away from Katie, watching the training.

“Average?”

She nodded.

“About twenty percent—give or take. It’s for a variety of reasons, as you probably know, from recruits not liking what training is really like to personality clashes with both personnel and canines.”

“Sergeant, I’m getting the impression that you knew Jeanine Trenton on a more personal level. Can you tell me what your relationship with her was?” She watched him closely.

His jaw clenched and he averted Katie’s gaze. “I admit. I liked Jeanine. She was a hard worker and had an exceptional way with the dogs—something that you can’t teach.”

Katie listened.

“We went out a few times socially, but she became distant. I tried to get her to confide in me, but she wouldn’t.”

“Your thoughts about what would make her distant?”

“I got the impression that it was something with the training—someone who was bothering her—or worse. She began to hold back and not be as committed as she was before. She still did her job, but it was like her heart wasn’t in it anymore.”

“Anything else?” Katie pushed.

He shook his head and wouldn’t open up.

She reached into her pocket and retrieved a business card. “Here’s my card and my direct cell number. Please call me anytime if you remember anything.”

He took it and popped it into his pocket. “Thank you. I’m sorry that you are burdened with these murders, but I’m glad that you’re the one working them.”

Katie blinked, not quite knowing what to say in response. She still felt that he knew more than he was letting on, but perhaps a little more time would be what the sergeant needed to confide in her.

“Do you have a moment? I would like to show you something,” he said.

“Sure.”

Katie made a gesture to McGaven who had been chatting with one of the trainers. He caught up to Katie and the sergeant and they walked into one of the buildings, housing several classrooms and storage areas.