1
" Every second we have with these fine animals is a blessing. No creature, human or otherwise, will love you with such devotion, or trust you so fully. Remember this, Officer James. These dogs will lay their precious hearts bare to you, and hold back no part for themselves. Can anyone else in your pathetic excuse for a life say the same? Such trust is a gift from God Almighty above, so best you be worthy. "
― Robert Crais , The Promise (Elvis Cole, #16; Joe Pike, #5; Scott James & Maggie, #2)
2
" Patrol dogs and Military Working Dogs were trained to protect their handlers. If the handler was attacked, and unconscious, or fighting for his or her life, the dog had to know what to do without being told. As Leland said, “These animals aren’t robots, goddamnit! They think! You train her up right, this beautiful dog will watch your back better than a squad of goddamned Marines! "
― Robert Crais , The Promise (Elvis Cole, #16; Joe Pike, #5; Scott James & Maggie, #2)
4
" Why did Colinski want the house?” “Who knows? A place to hide, cut dope, stash cash, party. Stupid, I said, how are you going to clean up, being involved with a man like this, but the Great Colinski had spoken.” “Jacobi and Juan were both addicts. Did Juan trade drugs for the house?” “Yes! This was Colinski’s brilliant idea.” “Do "
― Robert Crais , The Promise (Elvis Cole, #16; Joe Pike, #5; Scott James & Maggie, #2)
9
" Hess rolled in like she was in charge, and laid out her plan to approach Ms. Breslyn. The ‘first contact’ team would consist of two women and an older, but nonthreatening, man. The team would include herself, another woman, and the man, the other woman being a shrink in her forties, and the man being a U.S. Attorney with a gentle, assuring presence. First contact, like Ms. Breslyn was an alien. Hess was explaining how their ‘first contact’ had to be staged when Jon interrupted. “Forget "
― Robert Crais , The Promise (Elvis Cole, #16; Joe Pike, #5; Scott James & Maggie, #2)
10
" Jon sat in the Range Rover cocoon, listened to Amy sleep, and knew people were beyond the edge of the darkness. Talking and planning, positioning cars at egress points to cover the house, and setting up at the storage facility. No one knew how Amy would react, or which way this would go, so they had to be flexible. Jon resented their intrusion. The "
― Robert Crais , The Promise (Elvis Cole, #16; Joe Pike, #5; Scott James & Maggie, #2)
14
" Scott squeaked approval, stayed her, and went to his car. Maggie sensed something was wrong by the change in his gait. She desperately wanted to follow, but Scott had stayed her. She obeyed, but whimpered anxiously when he crawled under the car. Maggie saw him tense, and the frantic way he scrambled to his feet, and heard the strain in his voice when he spoke to the woman. Then the woman shouted, and Scott ran to the street. His smell reached her, and was ripe with the thorny scents of danger and fear. Maggie trembled and quivered. Scott’s fear poured into her. Danger. Threat. Maggie broke from her stay, and ran to him. His thundering heart filled her with fury. Protect Scott. Defend. Scott pulled her close, but his closeness did not comfort her. His fear screamed they were in danger. She bunched and coiled, and tried to pull free to find the threat, but Scott held her close. Her huge ears swiveled and tipped, seeking their enemy. She sniffed frantically, searching the air, but found only Scott’s fear. His fear was enough. Scott was hers. Maggie growled, low and deep in her massive chest, a primal warning to whatever might hear. This pack was hers. The fur on her back and shoulders bristled like wire, and her nails raked the asphalt like claws. A danger she couldn’t see or smell or hear was coming, but a fire passed down from a hundred thousand past generations prepared her. Maggie knew what she needed to know. Hunt. Attack. Pull the threat down with her fangs, and destroy it. Maggie didn’t need to know anything else. Nothing else mattered. "
― Robert Crais , The Promise (Elvis Cole, #16; Joe Pike, #5; Scott James & Maggie, #2)
