Perfect Partners Read online

  For a long second Sara paused, and Izzy wondered if she’d lost her train of thought.

  “I just want to make sure I have your attention,” she said before continuing. “This is an explosive detection class.” She waited and Izzy felt the room get heavy. “I don’t need to tell you how important your role is in this. I mean that on the grandest scale.” She cast her eyes down, almost seeming indebted to the thirteen officers in the room for their future service. “To that end, we give you the best dogs. That’s the truth.”

  Her tone was deathly serious and the entire class seemed to still as they listened.

  “I can’t tell you how to do your job. Patrol the city, or the subway, or the airport, make arrests. I wouldn’t dare.” She shook her head. “My job is to send you out there prepared, trained, and ready to do what you do best.” She held up one finger. “I’m going to do that by teaching you and your partner to understand each other.” Lifting a second finger, she added, “And making sure you respect each other.” She shrugged. “It’s that simple.” She brought her hands together in front of her body. “There are some people out there who will tell you it’s got to be this way or that.” She frowned. “Not me. I don’t believe there’s only one way that’s right. The bottom line is all the methods and techniques can be taught and practiced over and over. But if there’s not genuine affection and understanding between you and your dog, none of it matters. Those two things—love and respect—they’re the building blocks of trust. When it’s all said and done, you can strip everything else away—all the training in the world isn’t worth a damn. Trust is what makes perfect partners.”

  Izzy’s heart drummed in her chest. Full of inspiration, she was ready to bolt out the door and spring into action. She wasn’t alone. Without even looking around, she could feel the momentum bouncing around the room. Sara was no fool—she could obviously sense their anticipation—and she clapped her hands once before she said, “All right. Enough talking. Let’s go have some fun.”

  Izzy closed her blank notebook as Sara gave last-minute instructions while they got ready to go outside, reminding the class that it was still the first day and cautioning against getting too attached to a specific dog. Assignments would be made soon enough. For now, they should focus on throwing a ball, playing tug, giving basic obedience commands, and allowing time for everyone to adjust, dogs and humans alike.

  Regardless of Sara’s warning, Izzy was thrilled when Chase ended up her partner right away. He looked up at her and did a tiny little jump, just enough so the top of his head came in contact with her palm as she gripped the end of his leash.

  “I know,” she said, giving him a small rub. “I remember you too.” She headed to a spot where some dog toys were set up. Before selecting one, she knelt in front of him, so he could see her face at his eye level. “I’m Izzy.” She gave him a good scratch between his ears and petted his face with both hands. “You are a handsome boy.” It was the truth, even if she was biased. Where the majority of the dogs had the traditional tan and black saddling associated with shepherds and shepherd mixes, Chase’s coat had an almost reddish overtone to it, a mottled mix of dark and light browns and blacks, rinsed with an auburn wash. Perfectly proportioned black-tipped ears and eyes rich with emotion complemented his muscled square frame.

  He sat patiently, allowing Izzy to drown him in affection, before he leaned in and licked her cheek. “Yeah, I missed you too, buddy,” she said with a smile.

  She stood and selected a thick rope and offered it to him. Even though she knew he was strong, the sheer force of his bite on the knotted end threw her off balance. She had to use all her strength to hold on to it and keep from face-planting.

  “Let him win.” Sara’s voice surprised her even if it shouldn’t have. Izzy turned and Sara was closer than she realized. In two steps, Sara was right next to her, her musky scent preceding her by a mere fraction of a second. “I see you two found each other.”

  “Yeah, it just kind of worked out that way.” It was the truth, and Izzy hoped Sara believed her.

  “Don’t worry about setting up a hierarchy just yet,” Sara said, looking between Izzy and Chase. “Today is just about playing.” She stuffed her hands in the pockets of the sweatshirt that covered her staff polo. “We’ll shift things around so everyone will get the opportunity to work with different dogs. Outside of basic obedience commands, it doesn’t make sense to set up too many parameters at this point.”

  Izzy nodded in response, disheartened at the thought of working with another dog. It was foolish, her instant attachment, but she’d be lying to herself if she denied it. Chase nudged at her with the rope, and she steadied her footing before she reached for the end of it.

  “There’s no shame in going for a different toy. I don’t want to see you get hurt.” Izzy heard judgment in Sara’s tone and the slight put-down hurt her feelings. She looked up to gauge the intent behind the comment, but Sara’s attention had shifted to another team working a few yards away. “Excuse me,” she mumbled, already walking off.

  For the rest of the afternoon Izzy fought the insecure feelings Sara’s statement brought to the surface. She followed her advice anyway, trading out the rope for a heavy plastic ball on a thick string, which Chase seemed to like just fine. But before the session ended, she picked up the rope again. Getting a good handle on it, she held it out in front of her. Chase took the bait and clenched it in his jaw, tugging her forward gently.

  “That’s it, buddy.” She wrestled back and forth, keeping her arm nice and loose, which enabled her to control the activity. After a few seconds she let go, and he spun in a happy circle, bowing down and placing the rope at her feet.

  “Again?” she asked, witnessing his openmouthed pant, his giant pink tongue hanging out to one side, a smiling snout if ever she saw one. “Sit,” she ordered, the command taking her by surprise.

  Scampering into place, Chase set himself squarely in front of her, his butt glued to the ground. “Good boy.” She heard her voice pitch higher than usual as she praised him. “Let’s do this,” she said, picking up the rope and repeating the exercise. She let him win every time, and after each round, she made him sit and stay until she was ready to go again. She commended him for his good manners and rubbed his soft gorgeous head.

  After countless repetitions of the game, she decided to mix it up. As they sparred, she stepped back but didn’t let go. “Chase,” she said, stilling to get his attention. “Drop it,” she ordered. He looked at her, still clutching tightly as he tilted his head. “Enough. Drop it. Now.” Her voice was strong and even. “Drop it,” she repeated.

  When he let go, Izzy fell to her knees and hugged him. “Yes. Good boy! What a good, good boy you are.” She had no clue if he understood her at all or if he simply released the rope out of sheer boredom. It didn’t matter. He clearly knew she was pleased with his actions, and he returned her affection with an overzealous series of kisses to her face. She finished the day goopy and slobbered on. She couldn’t wait to do it all again tomorrow.

  Chapter Five

  “Remember something. This is a game to them. The dogs will pick it up faster than you.”

  Izzy could listen to Sara talk all day. Her eyes twinkled and her voice brimmed with excitement over the job she clearly adored. Every day after lunch, Sara came in and addressed the class, dropping tidbits and pointers, lightening the mood after the morning classroom instruction which had invariably centered on improvised explosive devices, suicide bombers, and active shooters. Necessary training for sure, but heavy as hell.

  “Your dog’s whole existence is based on pleasing you,” Sara continued. “And on chewing.” Izzy chuckled with the rest of her cohorts. “In all seriousness, these pups will work all day for their tennis ball or their rawhide. It’s just who they are. They want to work and they want to play. It’s an amazing combination.” She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, and Izzy spotted a dark red scratch on the back of Sara’s hand poking out from the l
ong-sleeved T-shirt she wore for layering.

  The injury hadn’t been there yesterday. Izzy would know. Not that she’d spent any one-on-one time with Sara since Monday afternoon’s chastising of her play session with Chase. In fact, she’d seen Sara only peripherally in the last few days. Talking with the other instructors, working with her classmates. It almost seemed like Sara was avoiding her. The thought made her stomach turn, and even though it didn’t make sense at all, Izzy couldn’t help being aware every time Sara checked in on her colleagues.

  Izzy seemed relegated to getting Sara’s attention as part of the group only. It was frustrating, but perhaps she was overthinking it. Either way, right now Sara was front and center, and Izzy capitalized on it, studying her instructor from head to toe. Her hair was pulled up, save the few layers that wouldn’t stay back, and she wore a dark blue golf shirt with the DHS logo over the left breast and sneakers in lieu of boots today.

  Sure, Izzy was ogling, but she was also listening. She even took a note here and there. There was no harm in it, she rationalized. It was a glorious sunny Friday, she was on her way to surviving the first week without making a fool of herself or failing out, and she believed a small reward was in order. Staring at the sexy instructor in tight tactical pants ten feet away seemed as harmless as it was satisfying. A win all around.

  Her day scored a second boon when Chase bounded toward her the second she stepped outside. He did a happy dance when he reached her, topping it off with a controlled leap touching his head to her hand, an expression of his obvious joy at seeing her. Both yesterday and the day before, the staff had paired off teams as they’d started the first organized exercises. After the structured partnerings of the last two days, Chase appeared to be taking matters into his own hands this afternoon. She greeted him with an upbeat hello and some good neck scratches. She’d missed him too, but rather than dwell on it, she got right to work. Starting with some basics, Izzy ordered him to sit, stay, and heel. Just a few simple commands to find their groove before they started drilling as a team.

  “I can’t stress enough how important it is to work with some of the other dogs.” Sara’s voice behind them startled her.

  “Hi.” Izzy righted herself and stood beside Chase, her fingers touching the baby soft down of his left ear. “I spent yesterday with Jax and the day before split up between Tempe, Dodger, and Sammy. I’m getting around. Promise.” She didn’t want to be disrespectful, but she also didn’t understand why she should apologize for having a connection with Chase.

  Sara shifted her weight to one hip and crossed her arms as she backed away, looking dismayed at Izzy’s response.

  Izzy bent down to Chase. “We made it, bud. Rock on,” she whispered in quiet support, leading him to play for a few minutes before the staff called everyone to order for some rudimentary agility drills.

  A few cycles in, Sara stopped the action. She looked up and down the line, cocking her head back and forth. Signaling Gilmartin, Reyes, and Hayes—the team of trainers—to meet her in the center, the staff conducted an impromptu meeting while the group waited with their dogs on the sidelines. Every few seconds the instructors glanced over. Izzy felt all eyes on her and wondered if she was being paranoid.

  Before she could assess the possibility, Sara broke off from the group. “We’re going to try a few changes, gang,” she said to the class. Taking two paces closer, she looked at the far end. “Let’s have Sammy up here. Come here, Sammy.” Izzy saw her classmate Mark frown as he let go of the lead, allowing Sammy to trot over to Sara. “Good girl, Sammy,” Sara said, picking the leash up and handing it off to Agent Gilmartin. Izzy felt her heart pound in anticipation when Sara looked right at her. “We’re going to switch you with Chase. Chase, come.”

  Chase looked up at Izzy, his eyes as expressive as ever. He was looking for guidance, seeking her permission, waiting for her command. God, she loved him so much already. Meeting his stare, she smiled reassuringly. “Go ahead, Chase. Go,” she ordered sweetly, before shifting her gaze to Sara, boring her eyes right through her, not even attempting to hide her feelings about the move.

  Izzy held her tongue and for the remainder of the day she worked with Sammy, a lovely shepherd mix who was smart as a whip and eager to please. But she missed her boy and she knew the feeling was mutual.

  At three o’clock when her classmates were en route to their families or had retired to their campus dorm rooms, Izzy knocked on Sara’s half-open office door.

  “Yep,” Sara said in response to the interruption, still facing her computer. She swung her chair halfway around, and her expression changed on the spot. “Hey,” she said, her tone full of surprise at Izzy’s presence. “Izzy, hi.”

  Izzy leaned into the room, but most of her body stayed in the hallway. She shifted her backpack higher on her shoulder. “I was hoping I could talk to you for a minute.” She knew her voice betrayed her anxiety, and she prayed her nerve would hold up.

  “Of course.” Sara’s voice was soft and welcoming and she waved her in pleasantly. “Come in, please.”

  “I know it’s not my place to question your decisions or anything,” she started. “And I don’t want you to think I’m challenging you or being difficult.” Izzy worried her lower lip repeatedly, knowing it would be raw by evening. “The thing I’m trying to understand is…why?” Even though she’d practiced in her head, she knew her pitch was coming out as a pathetic whine.

  Sara leaned all the way forward, resting her arms across her pristine desk. “About Chase, you mean?”

  “Yes.” Izzy looked up at the large ceiling tiles, wanting to keep her composure. “It’s just…” She searched her mind for the best argument. “We seem to get each other. I thought that would matter.”

  Sara’s smile was warm and understanding. “It does, Izzy.”

  “Why don’t you want us to be partners, then?” She heard the desperation in her defensiveness.

  “It’s not that I don’t want you to be partners.” Sara’s gentle frown bordered on apologetic. “I know you two work well together. But there are other factors to consider.” She moved her chair the tiniest bit away, and Izzy inched to the edge of her own seat in response.

  “We have a connection. We click, me and Chase. I don’t know how to describe it.”

  She saw Sara’s smile reach her eyes. “I know you do. It’s sweet.” Sara nodded. “You have the makings of a very strong handler, Izzy. You’ll pair well with any dog here. I think Sammy is a good fit for you. She’s a great dog.”

  Izzy slumped in her seat and folded her arms across her chest like a petulant child. “So is Chase.” She crossed one leg over the other in defiance. “Mark is pissed too. He’s been bonding with Sammy all week.”

  Sara laughed out loud. “Where is he? Or are you the designated rep for this arbitration?” Her tone said she wasn’t mad, but it bothered Izzy to think she wasn’t being taken seriously.

  “I don’t know,” she said with a flippant shrug. “I guess he doesn’t have the balls I do.” She let out a heavy breath, collecting herself. “I’m sorry.” Rubbing her neck with both hands, she added, “I’m just fired up about this. And honestly, I don’t get it.” She pitched forward in her seat. “The very first day, you said trust was key. Chase trusts me, I can feel it. What could be more important than that?” She knew she was begging but felt justified.

  “You’re right,” Sara acknowledged, appearing stoically sound in her decision. She rubbed her lips methodically with the tip of her index finger as though she was making sure to select her words with care.

  “Izzy, I can see you’re taking this personally. And you shouldn’t. Honestly.” Sara dropped her hand away from her face and she appeared to almost frown in commiseration. “You do make an excellent point.” Her words seemed to signal a kind of half-hearted agreement. “Having trust and good click, as you put it, is important.”

  Izzy couldn’t help but notice that the words were optimistic but the shrug that accompanied them was posi
tively defeatist.

  “Unfortunately, there are some logistical factors to consider as well,” Sara finished.

  Izzy racked her brain but came up with nothing. “What does that even mean?”

  “The long and short of it”—Sara raised her palms in a kind of surrender—“Chase is a big dog. You are a petite woman.” She picked up a stray shred of paper with the pad of her index finger and flicked it into the wastepaper bin behind her. “It’s not an optimal match. I’m sorry.”

  Izzy closed her eyes and shook her head, trying to make sense of what she was hearing. “I don’t get it,” she admitted. “I can’t have him because I’m petite? That makes no sense.”

  “It’s not that simple.” Sara rose from her chair and came around to the front of her desk, leaning against it as she spoke. “Chase is one of the bigger dogs in the class. And I know you’ve been working with him a lot in the very structured, very organized environment we’ve created for this class for the first week.” She crossed her arms. “Chase is strong. Left to his own devices he wants to go after rabbits, squirrels.” She rolled her eyes. “Chipmunks, forget it. They’re his kryptonite.”

  “But you just said you thought I had it in me to be a good handler.” It came out like a plea but she couldn’t stop herself.

  “You are a good handler.” When Sara looked at her, Izzy felt the sincerity of her words. “Which is why I don’t want you to get hurt by pairing you with a dog that outweighs you, especially while you are both still learning.”

  Sara’s voice was soft and Izzy was touched by the sentiment in her tone. But even though she was moved by the concern, she rushed past it, still fighting for what she wanted.

  “He won’t hurt me.”

  “Not on purpose, of course not.” Sara paused and pinched the bridge of her nose as though she was giving it some thought. “Izzy,” she said, waiting a beat until Izzy made direct eye contact. “Chase weighs eighty pounds.” She brought her hands to her face and pressed both of her temples. “There are times when you will be required to carry him. If he gets hurt, God forbid,” she said with a heavy sigh. “Even if he just needs a boost to get into an SUV or the bed of a truck. That’s on you.” She gripped the edge of her desk and drummed her fingertips underneath. “I need to be confident you can safely do that. I’m not trying to hurt your feelings or your ego, but you’re tiny. I’m just not sure you’d be able to do it.”