62
An insistent sound cut through the fog in JJ’s mind. She’d heard it earlier and ignored it, despite the fact the sound meant she was supposed to wake up. Alarm clock? Fire alarm? No, cell phone. She struggled to rise from the bed, a heavy weight upon her chest.
With dry eyes and an even drier mouth, JJ croaked, “Trooper, move.” The words had no effect, but a forceful shove nudged the shepherd to the other side of the bed.
The phone stopped ringing in JJ’s hand. Dammit. If it was important, they’d call back. She squinted at her phone, trying to make sense of the numbers that appeared there, particularly the hour. It was time to get ready for work. She set her phone on the nightstand, but it rang again before her feet even touched the floor. Recalling her earlier unwanted conversation
