Aiding Abby (Gold Coast Retrievers Book 10) Read online

  Aiding Abby

  The Gold Coast Retrievers, Book 10

  Kim Koby

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Sneak Peak

  More from Sweet Promise

  More from the Series

  About the Author

  © 2019, Kim Koby

  All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system without the prior written permission of the publisher.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, organizations, places, events, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  No part of this work may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission of the publisher.

  Sweet Promise Press

  PO Box 72

  Brighton, MI 48116

  Chapter One

  Abby’s golden retriever nudged her arm. Shadow didn’t like when she hit the snooze button, and she’d already done it once. His cold nose pressed against her warm skin.

  “Fine, I’m awake,” she grumbled, not ready to climb out of bed. “I need to get a doggy door put in. Come on, let’s go outside.”

  Shadow whimpered.

  Abby begrudgingly tossed the toasty comforter off, then placed her feet on the floor. “I’m up, I’m up. Just give me a second to get my bearings. You realize I’m not a morning person, right?”

  Shadow waited patiently. He was never far from Abby’s side. Together they padded down the long hallway and out to the family room. On the way to the sliding glass doors, she picked up the remote and turned on the television. She flipped to Good Morning Gold Coast, a popular morning show people relied on to wake up with. Well, that and caffeine. She liked Star, the mascot of Good Morning Gold Coast more than the host himself, but she was partial to golden retrievers. Who could blame her?

  Abby unlocked the sliding glass door and let Shadow outside. While he took care of his business, she went and unplugged her phone from the charger sitting on the kitchen counter. Usually she charged it by her bedside, but for some reason she plugged it in there before heading to bed. Even her most steady patterns were often skewed.

  Abby glanced out the window, but Shadow wasn’t ready. She scrolled through Reel Life while waiting. Her favorite part of the social media site was when others posted dog pictures. She was guilty just the same, putting more up about Shadow then herself most times, but who could resist the sweetness of a pup?

  As she lifted out of her morning fog, Abby worked out her afternoon plans. She’d need to visit the Redwood Cove Police Department along with the fire department. There were a lot of bases to cover if she wanted to dig into the arson investigation. It was time. She’d put it off long enough.

  She glanced outside one more time and saw Shadow waiting by the door. She scooped his dog food into a bowl, placed it down, then let him inside. “I need to grab a shower while you eat. I’ll be finished in a little bit.”

  She talked to him regularly, even knowing he wouldn’t answer. Shadow was her best friend and a good listener.

  The arson. It was hard to believe that two years had passed. When it first happened, she was too raw to think about the details of the event. And the circumstances…After all, it was her father’s remains that were found at the crime scene. Well, the dental records said it was him, but none of it made any sense. What was he doing there in the first place?

  It’s not like he would have driven himself over. He didn’t drive due to medication resistant epilepsy. Whether he called a cab, or somebody drove him there, what exactly was he up to? It’s not like he worked there. He was on disability and didn’t have any business there that she was aware of. Abby hated that there weren’t any easy answers.

  The police investigation had gone cold. The crime was written off as questionable arson when nobody could pinpoint the truth, and the case had never been solved. That didn’t sit well with Abby. Not one bit. Her father died during the fire, and somebody somewhere knew more than they were saying. It was no accident, and she would do whatever it took to find out why.

  After her shower, Abby dressed, then slipped Shadow’s psychiatric service dog vest on. Without his vest, too many people came up to interact with him thinking he was simply a pet or for emotional support. She knew they didn’t mean harm, but many simply didn’t understand not to interrupt or pet a service dog without asking first. She educated those with a quick statement when need be, but she wished more were naturally aware. It was distracting to the animal, even though he might not appear to be working to the average person.

  Shadow was more than a friend; he was her saving grace. He warned her of impending panic attacks and helped her before they grew out of control. He stepped in and separated her from others in circumstances that left her vulnerable.

  Without Shadow, she’d be trapped inside, barely able to move about in crowds. It wasn’t always that way, but after the assault… Abby drew in a deep breath. Don’t think about it now. You have things to do. She closed her eyes and pushed her fingers through Shadow’s fur. “We have work to do.”

  Shadow leaned in against Abby’s leg, comforting her with a gentle nudge.

  Abby went out to her SUV and popped the hatch so Shadow could jump in. She closed the back hatch, then walked to the front of the car. Once inside, she started the vehicle and lowered the back windows so that Shadow could pop his nose outside. He loved to let his ears flap in the wind as they drove.

  It only took ten minutes to get to the Redwood Cove Police Station. She parked and went around back to get Shadow. Together, they started inside. Abby glanced over her shoulder at least a dozen times making sure the area around her was safe. The hypervigilance never seemed to get better. They said over time it might improve, but she was still waiting. Shadow moved in sync with her, staying close. It wasn’t that she was in danger in the police station’s parking lot, but sometimes she couldn’t control the anxiety that crept up on her at the last moment. Her heart would race, or her breath quickened without thought.

  She was always on guard. Once inside, she was able to relax a bit more, and her stiff shoulders dropped. She took quick control of her breathing, then went up to the counter to speak with the officer behind it.

  “Good morning, I’m Officer Evans, how can I help you today?”

  The woman’s hair was twisted tightly around her head and tied off into a neat bun. Her dark hair matched her eyes almost to the exact shade. She didn’t wear a lick of makeup and her uniform was ironed and pressed within an inch of its life. Abby was certain if she could see her shoes, they’d be shined to a high gloss.

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sp; She smiled at the officer. “Hi, I’m looking for information on an older case. I have a copy of the original police report, but I’m checking to see if there have been any updates since it was written.”

  “Do you have a case number, or a date I can work with?” the woman asked.

  “I do.” Abby dug the scrap of paper she’d written it on from the bottom of her purse, then pushed it across the counter.

  The officer picked it up and punched it into a computer. “I can print you out a copy of the report. There is a fee.”

  “Of course,” Abby said, anxious to see if anything had changed since the last copy she’d received.

  After a few moments, a couple sheets of paper spat out of a printer that sat a few feet away. The officer scooped them up and then slipped her hand under the counter to snatch up another paper. “Here’s the report you requested. I’ll need you to fill out this form which is the official request, and then pay the eight-dollar fee.”

  Paid and with the fresh report in hand, Abby hurried back to her car, so she could read it privately. She quickly helped Shadow into the back, then made her way to the front. “Maybe we’ll get lucky and learn something new.”

  Shadow didn’t reply, but Abby knew he was listening. It comforted her to talk to her dog, even if other people thought it was odd.

  “You do know he doesn’t answer,” her mother would say. “He’s a dog.”

  Wow. If only she’d been aware. Abby usually just mumbled under her breath and let the comments slide. What did it matter if she spoke to Shadow like a person? He liked to be included, and it didn’t hurt anybody. Besides, there was nobody she trusted more.

  Abby’s eyes darted back and forth, scanning the report. She grumbled. “Not much new, boy. We’re going to have to go to the fire department next. Hopefully, there are more details on their report. There has to be something. Right?”

  Arson. A cold case. Her father. And not enough information to understand what happened. It was up to her to put the pieces together. She’d decided to write a book about it, but before she could truly put it together, she’d need to investigate the facts, what little there were. She’d only ever written fiction before, so tackling something this close to her was a challenge she hoped she was up to. If it offered her closure, and helped her find the truth, it might make the difference her family was looking for. With a lack of answers, they always wondered what truly happened the night of the fire.

  At first, she’d been angry that there were unanswered pieces to the puzzle, but then it was frustration. How could they let the case get cold? Didn’t they know somebody lost their life? Why was the file tucked away? They said if it isn’t solved early on, it’s near impossible… Well, that wasn’t good enough. Her father wasn’t simply a number in a case file. She’d find answers where they couldn’t. Hopefully. She’d try. Oh, how she wanted to find them. He deserved that much. They all did. Their lives had been turned upside down. She needed to right the wrong.

  Abby started her car. She’d be passing the Dessert First Bakery on the way to the fire house. Maybe she’d stop by and say a quick hello to Joe Craven and grab a few pastries for later.

  Abby mumbled to Shadow, who she looked at in her rearview mirror. “Okay, so maybe I don’t need the extra calories, but do you blame me? Yes, I see you looking at me. Are you judging me? To be fair, I’d get you a treat, too.”

  Shadow wagged his tail.

  “See, that’s what your look was about, wasn’t it? Suddenly, it’s not such a bad idea to stop. You wanted something special, silly dog. It’s like you can read my mind,” she teased. “I forgive you for judging me.”

  After stopping for treats, they headed to the Redwood Cove Fire Department. If she could learn something new, anything, it might give her enough to dig into her book and recover from the past hurt of losing her father that way. Her brother Ian took the news hard too but turned things around in his life which ended up being a blessing in disguise. He was headed down a bad path prior to losing their father, but after the shock of it all he did a complete turnaround.

  Abby’s mother, on the other hand, never truly came out of her depression or mourning. She’d been with Abby’s father all her adult life, and there was a void she couldn’t seem to fill now that he was gone.

  While Abby felt the loss, having Shadow by her side helped her immensely. If she didn’t have him, she wasn’t sure what she would have done. Carol Graves was a godsend, that’s for sure. She was a very special breeder that made an impact on Abby’s life. When Carol was young, a golden retriever saved her from drowning. Since that time, she’d dedicated her life to these special dogs to be raised and trained as service, rescue, and therapy dogs. If it weren’t for Carol helping to match her with the perfect pup, Abby was certain her life might have turned out differently.

  After she was attacked…the assault tore her up into little pieces and spit her back out again. Even after all the therapy and counseling, it wasn’t until Shadow came into her life that she could move forward. She had Carol Graves to thank whole-heartedly for her loyal companion. Quite frankly, Shadow gave her back a quality of life she’d lost. Prior to him, she was trapped in her home, terrified of the world, and everything that lurked around the corner.

  And yet, here she was, sitting in front of the local fire department, ready to tackle a big investigative story—solving the crime of her father’s murder. Abby parked the car, got Shadow, and started to go inside.

  A large bay door was open. Inside sat a shiny, freshly washed firetruck. The concrete drive in front of the bay was still wet from the vehicle’s bath.

  She slipped through the opening, having seen one of the men to the side of it. “Hi, excuse me…do you have a moment?”

  A large man that reminded her of Paul Bunyan, big and wide, turned toward her. His hair was salt and peppered, showing his age. “How can I help you?”

  As he stepped in closer, Shadow stood between them, acting as a silent barrier.

  “I’m looking for information from an old arson case. I was hoping to get a copy of your records.”

  “Do you have a date and location?” he asked.

  She nodded.

  “Ben can help you out. One second.” He yelled over his shoulder. “Ben, can you come out here for a minute?”

  Not a moment later, a younger gentleman showed up. “Yeah, what’s up?”

  Abby’s heart stopped, then skipped a beat when it started again. He was easily the most handsome man she’d ever laid eyes on. He reminded her of the kind of guy that would end up in a fireman’s calendar, maybe holding a puppy, and looking all buff and yummy. The kind that women hung in work cubicles all over the world. She blinked a few times, certain she was staring. Finally, she shook her head lightly, trying to focus on the task at hand.

  “Hi,” she got out, after what felt like forever. “I need some help.”

  Ben went to lean in and pet Shadow, then recognized he was wearing a service vest and drew his hand back in. “Sorry, didn’t realize she was working.”

  “He. Shadow is a boy.”

  “Ah, he, sorry there, buddy,” he said, addressing the dog.

  Chapter Two

  Ben Foster took a step back, respecting their space. He wondered what her dog did to help but knew it wouldn’t be polite to just come out and ask. Not his business.

  The girl before him had a certain vulnerability in her eyes, like she thought she was bothering them. That was the furthest thing from the truth. Honestly, during the day between fire calls, things were pretty dull around the firehouse, so company was a nice change of pace. They cleaned up, washed the trucks, and did odd jobs, but otherwise it was a matter of killing time.

  “You need help?” he asked. “What kind?”

  “Information,” she started, hoping she wasn’t still staring. It was hard to look away from such a handsome guy. That alone was weird for her. She hadn’t even noticed men lately. “I’m looking for an arson report from about two years ago.”
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br />   “Oh, I can help you with that. Come this way,” he said, leading her through the garage bay area and through a door that went inside. “Two years, you said? We’ll probably have a report on the computer about it, but I think we were still in the process of switching paper reports over, so there might be something filed as well.”

  “Great. I’ll take any information you’ve got on the case.” Shadow met her pace step by step.

  “Two years? Why the sudden interest?” he asked out of curiosity.

  “I’m doing an investigation for a book that I’m writing.”

  He leaned against a stack of file cabinets, taking a moment to get another good look at the young woman that found her way there. She was pretty. Her long, brown hair had copper highlights in it and went just past her shoulders. He wondered if the sun put the highlights in, or if a stylist had. Either way, he liked how they played off her face. Her creamy complexion was dotted with a couple of freckles that sneaked out from behind her makeup.

  No wedding band; he liked that. “Do you have the date and location? That will help me pinpoint things. I’ll check the paper reports first, then we’ll jump to the computerized version.”

  She listed off the information he’d asked for and waited. She hoped something would come out of the visit. She hadn’t gotten anything new from the police report.

  “Wow, I remember that fire. Big burner, a stable. The odd part was that even though there was a victim, all the animals made it out of the barn safely. That’s a rarity when something happens and becomes engulfed in flames so quickly.”