Phoenix Inheritance Read Online Free PDF Page B

will keep both of you warmer.”
    â€œGood idea. Thanks, Mom!”
    â€œBut only if you’re sure he won’t scratch you.”
    â€œNah, he wants to do it. He says it’s a good idea.”
    Nice to have your approval, cat.
    While Charlie fiddled with his zipper and the cat, she took off her gloves with her teeth, not wanting to lose her hold on her son. With no people around, she’d have to rely on the dogs.
    Fingers trembling, she dug out the dog whistle from under her coat and blew it three quick times, a sound that was too high-pitched for any human to hear. Thor and Loki would hear the whistle, rush through the dog door and come to her. Once they were here, she might be able to shove Charlie close enough to them that one of the dogs could grab him with their teeth. Or the dogs might be able to throw her down a branch. And maybe she’d left out rope. They knew enough to retrieve it for her.
    If not, she could send one for help, probably Loki, who was marginally faster and less arthritic.
    That was assuming, of course, if anyone else was stupid enough to be out in this freakin’ blizzard.

Chapter Three
    Daz pulled his van into Renee’s driveway. The snow had already covered her yard in a white blanket. This storm had moved in so very fast. He’d seen several huge branches strewn over the main road already, including one that had just missed the van by a few feet.
    They might have to weather the storm at Renee’s. But he had supplies in the van and he bet Renee had prepared to be snowed in as well. He was just glad he’d be here to help.
    Daz jammed on his gloves, opened the van door, stepped out and was instantly confronted by two barking German Shepherds. Renee’s SAR dogs seemed determined to prevent him from going anywhere. He flattened himself against the side of the van.
    â€œHey, easy, guys! Thor! Loki! You know me.”
    One of them stopped at his feet—he could never tell which was which—barked three quick times at him, and tapped his leg, like it was some sort of signal.
    Crap, it was a search-and-rescue signal, but he didn’t remember which one. The other dog ran off around the side of the garage to the backyard. He came zooming back in only a few seconds, barking all the while. What were they trying to tell him?
    â€œRenee!” he yelled. “Call off Thor and Loki!”
    No answer save the sounds of falling flakes and the storm-muffled rustle of leaves and branches.
    Very strange, because the garage door was open and Renee’s truck was inside. Could they be out in this storm?
    He took a step toward the house. One of the dogs growled. “Easy, boy.” He slipped the cell phone out of his pocket, keeping his eye on the dogs all the while, and dialed Renee’s number. He heard the ring echo inside the house. The answering machine picked up after five rings. Nothing stirred in there.
    This isn’t right.
    A thousand horrible scenarios ran through his mind. A tree had fallen on them. They were trapped in the forest. One of his enemies found out where his son lived and was after them…
    Daz shut them all down. Think, don’t panic. The answer was right in front of him. He knelt down to face the dogs. They came closer and stopped barking. Damn, what was the command word for them?
    â€œThor, Loki, mellon ,” he said.
    They quieted for a second but then one of them repeated the springing, backing off, and running into the yard and coming back. The other repeated the tapping on his leg.
    Finally, he remembered what that meant: a signal for find and retrieve.
    The dogs had found someone and needed human help.
    Not someone. His family. “Renee! Charlie!” he yelled as he scrambled to open the back of his van, the dogs at his heels.
    His son was out in this storm. So was Renee. And they were maybe hurt or worse.
    He grabbed a coil of rope from the back of the van and slipped a Swiss Army knife and a flashlight