To Love Someone (Baytown Boys #14) - Maryann Jordan Page 0,96
problem stealing from the clinic and delivering vaccines here, did you?” Samantha’s voice was steady even though her insides quivered. Still running on nerves and adrenaline, she tried to ease the pounding of her heart.
Annette began to shake her head slowly back and forth. “I never meant for any of this to happen. It was Tom. I did it for Tom.”
Samantha jerked as though punched in the gut. Joseph wrapped his arm over her shoulder and around her chest, pulling her in tight as Frodo pushed his way forward, his body leaning against her and his nose nuzzling her fingers.
“Tom? What are you talking about?”
“Shut up!” Paula shouted toward Annette before looking down at Liam. “I’m saying nothing without an attorney!”
“You’re wasting our fuckin’ time, Annette,” Joseph growled.
Colt turned toward Annette. “I’d advise you that if you’ve got something to say, now’s the time to do it.”
Annette swung her head around and looked at the Benders surrounded by law enforcement. “Wolves. She has a full-blooded wolf that she breeds. I don’t know who she sells them to, but Tom Robertson used to supply her with vaccines.”
“Shit,” Samantha said, her voice soft. Even though she’d had suspicions, hearing it from Annette was still shocking. “A full-blooded wolf?”
Liam now focused his attention on her. “Sam? What do we need to know once we find the animals?”
“We need to maintain everyone’s safety, but treat the animals humanely. When I thought there might be wolf-hybrids here, I had already looked up rescue operations. Pennsylvania has a wolf and wolf-hybrid sanctuary. There’s also several in the country that offer Wounded Warriors an opportunity to work with the animals in their sanctuary as well. First and foremost, we need to contact the Eastern Shore Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. They may not be able to take in the wolf while we find a sanctuary, but they’ll be able to humanely contain it. The same goes for the wolf-hybrids.”
Liam swung his head around toward one of the other detectives and nodded. “Make the call. Get them here ASAP.”
“I can help.”
Everyone’s attention swung back to the porch where Jim stood apart from Paula, his face now pale and lines having deepened in the last few minutes.
He started down the steps, his hand lifted in front of him. “I have no idea what any of this is about.” He glanced behind him at a glaring Paula, her lips still pinched, before turning back toward Samantha. “I have no idea about a wolf… or hybrids. Hell, I have no idea about you being kidnapped by my employees. Or what the hell Tom Robertson used to do. I don’t even know what my wife has to do with all of this.” He sucked in a ragged breath before pulling himself up to his full height. “But I can damn well help. I’ve got sturdy pens that can hold whatever animals you find. I don’t want my dogs exposed to anything wild, but I’ve got pens that we use to transport the dogs. They’ll be fine until you can get someone here.” His brow scrunched. “But I have no idea where to look.”
“I saw them in a small shed on the back of your property near the Maryland line,” Joseph said.
“When I bought this property fifteen years ago, there were some old outbuildings that used to be used by some weekend fishermen,” Jim said, shaking his head. “I haven’t looked at them in years. I never even go out to the far reaches of my acreage.”
“Well, someone has.” Joseph looked down at Samantha. “You stay here. I’ll lead them to the shed.”
“Oh, no, I’m not staying here. I’m going with you!”
“Show us where it is,” Liam called out, and as she followed Joseph and Frodo, she glanced to the side to see Colt leading Annette into the house along with a deputy that was guarding Paula. She wanted to hear what they had to say but was more interested in finding the animals. I understand the four-legged ones… they just want to live their lives naturally.
They spent the rest of the afternoon at the barn Joseph had discovered previously. The deputies had entered first, making sure the animals were contained in their pens. As soon as she was given the all-clear, she’d rushed in, anxious to see what was there.
She had stood, her breath stuck in her throat at the sight of two wolves, each in separate areas. The hair on the back of their necks stood up as their eyes glared toward the