Page 3 of The Enforcers: NOAH

Chapter 2

Mina Reston crept through the dark forest, her night-vision goggles bathing the scene in an eerie green light. Dang it, she’d lost the trail.

Her dad-blasted almost-ex-husband was setting illegal traps again. She just hoped she could find the sneaky sonofabrisket in the process of doing it, and catch it on camera.

Not only would that put a stop to the trapping, but she could finally prove to the family court judge that Robbie was the one who was unfit to raise Brock, not her.

It was bad enough he’d left their four-year-old son with no one but his buddy’s skanky pot-smoking girlfriend to watch him. At least Brock was probably fast asleep in the bedroom, far away from any smoke. She longed burst into the house, snatch him up and take him home with her, but she was only allowed twice-a-week visitation.

The separation tore at her heart.

She’d do anything to get her son back. Which was why she was traipsing through the forest in the dark, wearing camo and armed with guns, knives and cameras, following Robbie along what she suspected was a poachers’ trap line.

The question was, what were he and his cronies trapping?

There were all kinds of rumors about what could be found in this stretch of forest outside of Nashville, Tennessee. Some web sites and chat forums said there were exotic animals escaped from billionaire Alexander Grant’s estate—lions, tigers and other big cats; wolves and grizzlies. Others said there was a pack of huge wild wolfdogs escaped from an illegal breeder.

Or maybe a species of giant wolves.

The wolf rumors were the reason Mina had moved back here. For years, she’d been searching for the remnants of an Alaskan wolf pack decimated by poachers who wanted their unique DNA. After she left Robbie three years ago, she’d searched the country for even a hint of any surviving genetic specimens transplanted by the poachers. Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, and then, ironically, back here to Tennessee.

She owed a debt to someone, and she wouldn’t rest until she’d fulfilled it, or found out for sure it couldn’t be done.

She’d just never thought it might cost her her son.

She heard something crashing through the underbrush to her right, coming fast. Peering through the trees, she glimpsed a large four-legged shape. She froze, not wanting to draw its attention.

The sound of a trap springing shut rang through the trees like a death knell, making her flinch. An agonized howl penetrated the forest.

A wolf.

Dang them, dang them, dang them. If Mina hadn’t sworn off cursing when she’d had Brock, she’d be doing it now. Who the heck used a dad-blasted bear trap to catch anything? The animal, even if it lived, was good for nothing afterwards—the trapped leg ruined. Unless they only wanted the skins.

Bastards. Fracking, fracking bastards.

She’d become a vet and an animal behaviorist to help animals. As far as she was concerned, people who hurt them so viciously belonged in the inner circles of hell.

She knew the howl would draw Robbie and Briscoe right to the wolf. She’d like to shoot them herself, if they’d set this trap, but sadly that wasn’t an option.

She had to get them out of here so she could try to save the wolf.

Her mind racing frantically, she pulled out her cell phone and dialed.

Very faintly, she heard Robbie’s ringtone off to her left.

She moved away and turned her back, hoping he wouldn’t hear her speaking and realize she was here in the woods. Hoping the wolf wouldn’t howl again and Robbie wouldn’t hear it through the phone, and know.

“What do you want?” he answered in a growl. “It’s late, and I’m…busy.”

“Yeah,” she said, keeping her voice low. “You’re not home. I went by there. If you left Brock with Briscoe’s drugged-up ho’ again, I swear—”

“He’s fine,” Robbie snapped. “Don’t be fucking hysterical. Do you want me to tell the family court judge you’re stalking my house at night and calling me at all hours with wild accusations? Don’t you think that sounds kind of mentally unstable?”

Mina seethed. She couldn’t have him doing that. Not with her history. “Do you want me to call the cops and tell them there’s someone in possession of illegal drugs in your house, and you left your minor child in their care?” she countered.

She didn’t actually know if the woman had pot on her at this moment. If she knew for sure, Mina probably would call the cops. But right now, she just needed to scare Robbie out of the woods.

“You’re full of shit,” he said. “Go the fuck to sleep and stop stalking me.” Before he cut off the call, she heard Briscoe’s questioning voice, and Robbie saying faintly, “Fucking Mina. I have to go back before she—”