My phone rings at 4:20 a.m.
Whenever I get a call that early it usually involves a hiker in the Colorado high country who hasn’t returned when expected. I push through my sleep-fog and begin to mentally review the contents of the Search and Rescue ready-pack that sits in my mudroom—which is only a technique to get my brain cells functioning because my ready-packs are always, well. . . ready. Socrates, my S&R dog, will be excited. He loves finding lost people.
“Hey, Jamie. Sorry to wake you. We have a suspicious fire with a death.” The dispatcher rattles off an address near The Coffee Pod, one of my favorite hangouts.
Not Socrates then. Damn. A victim. This will be a hard one. It will be up to Kaji and me to either point to the possibility of arson or make it doubtful. The sad truth is we’ve helped uncover more than one murder where fire was employed as a cover-up.
“Has the scene been cleared?”
“Wake up, Jamie. I wouldn’t have called you unless that was the case. How soon can you get here?”
“On our way.”
Kaji is my accelerant detection dog. His name is Japanese for fire. It fits, right? I sometimes call him an arson dog because a) people are used to that description; and b) it sounds a lot sexier than accelerant detection dog. The truth is, Kaji can find signs of accelerant in a flash (so to speak), but it’s up to the investigators to tie that accelerant to arson.
My first priority is coffee. The Pod won’t be open by the time I get there and I can use some juice, caffeine-style. I pad into the kitchen and hit the button on the Cuisinart.
Ten minutes later I have a travel mug, my arson ready-pack, and Kaji, all settled into my Jeep.
“Let’s do this.”
Two Katie Malua tunes later and we’re at the fireground. While Kaji is ready to take on whatever he finds, I need a moment to mentally prepare. Arson fires are one thing. Arson fires that include human remains are something else entirely. There’s always an odor and a special horror unlike any other scene. Whether life is taken by fire or something beforehand, it’s irrelevant to me. I always smell the flesh, I always sense the person, and I always feel a heavy loss.
Human beings can really suck. I learned that a while ago when my mom was kidnapped and buried alive by some bastard who wanted to get even with my dad. What makes me able to breathe after doing what me and my dogs do today is knowing that in some small way we help put things right. Okay, not right, but righter. Without us, the bad guys could win. With us, the good guys have a chance.
You can read more about Jamie in Red Tide, the first book in the “Aspen Falls” thriller series, published by Bark Publishing. The second book in the series is The Missings.
GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment by 12 a.m. eastern on May 29 for the chance to win either a print or a kindle copy of Red Tide–winner’s choice. The print giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. The e-book giveaway is open to everyone. Winner will be notified within 48 hours after giveaway closes and you will have three days to respond after being contacted or another winner will be selected. Make sure to check your SPAM folder.
Meet the author
A Colorado native, Peg Brantley lives with her husband southeast of Denver. At this very minute she’s busy turning her standalone books into two separate series because that’s what her readers want.
Peg’s third book, The Sacrifice, was a finalist for two 2014 Colorado literary awards, and will become the first book in the Mex and Cade series (yet to be named).
You can learn more about Peg at www.pegbrantley.com or meet up with her on Facebook or follow her blog, Suspense Novelist.
It’s all better with friends.
Sounds like an extraordinary book. I’d sure like a copy in the Kindle format.
Sounds interesting! I want to know more! Thanks for the chance!
Sounds like a real good mystery.
Sounds good, love to read it
Oh sounds wonderful. Thank you for the chance.
New to me and I’m looking forward to reading it. It sounds like a winner!
Sounds excellent! Print copy if I should be lucky enough to win.
Another series to put on my must read list.
After the things in Nepal – this book hits home with the lost hikers.
thanks.
Thanks so much for introducing me to a new series. I would love to win a copy. Thanks for the introduction to the book and author. robeader53@yahoo.com
A great feature and giveaway. Thanks.
Sounds like a great book! Thanks for the chance to win a copy.
Sounds like a VERY interesting book. Kindle, please 🙂
If I win the paperback I donate it to our local library when I have read and reviewed it.
I like stories about working dogs. This sounds like a very interesting series.
I love search and rescue books. I learn so much for them and the dogs are really heros.
I already have it and it is high on my TBR list but now it just moved up, thanks, Dru. I do not wish to be entered in the contest.
I definitely would like to meet Jamie and both of her dogs. Thanks for the giveaway. A print copy if I win, please.
You had me hook at Colorado, where I too live. Book looks great, thanks for the chance to win a copy 🙂
Sounds like an exciting book. I used to know someone who was part of a Search and Rescue team. An extraordinary woman.
Would love to read this book…..thanx for the intro & opportunity….
This sounds like a great book to read. Thank you for chance to win
We are lucky that there are people willing and able to do that job.
I’m not familiar with this series, but it is definitely one that I would like to read.
This sounds really interesting! I have read various books about dogs with various skills, but not “accelerant detecting”. Would be happy with Kindle or print copy; thank you for the opportunity to win.
Sounds interesting.
Really sounds intriguing
Right up my alley. Print copy if I win. Please
Really interesting .grabbed my attention.
I want a paperback copy please. Thanks for the giveaway.
Oh, man! I’d be thrilled to win this! Love S&R and support the AK group. Print copy for me, should I be fortunate enough to win!
sounds like a great read
This book sounds very intriguing. The search and rescue and the “fire” dog interest me. Thanks for the contest. A print copy would be what I would choose.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
A new series! I must add this to my TBR list.
I love a mystery with animals. Sounds great
A new series is always exciting if you start to read from the 1st! This one sounds so good and love animals in the book no matter what genre. I would be a print book if I won. Thanks so much for the chance!
contest is closed.