19
Tanya was most of the way up the long flight of stairs when she noticed the change.
Ripper trotted ahead, close beside Valentin as if looking for an opening to attack the larger dog.
But between one step and the next, both dogs froze, but only for an instant.
Then, in unison, Valentin swung left and Ripper to the right. Then they swung back into line in front of her. All of their attention was at the head of the stairs.
“But there’s no one there, boys.”
The dogs ignored her.
They were on a scent.
Might it be the same scent they’d chased out behind the coffee shop on—
The next few moments happened so quickly, yet seemed to occur in such slow motion, that she could see every moment.
Just as her foot hit the top step, Ripper leapt at a shadow in the archway.
Halfway aloft, there
