Industrial electrician Jake Rasmussen has traveled too much to make a lot of friends, but he finally gave in to impulse and acquired Snick, a feisty rescued mini-schnauzer. Detective Boz Corwin similarly obtained Athena, a retired racing greyhound and a total lady. Both men adore their canine partners, but when the pets meet at the dog park and develop an instant love affair, all hell breaks loose between Jake and Boz, opposites in many ways. Meanwhile, valuable material and components are vanishing from the construction site of a new medical complex where Jake is working. Boz is assigned to the case, and the two must work together. Can they make this and much more work between them? Only their faithful canine companions know for sure ...

Schnickelfritz in Love

Boz Corwin actually got home early for a change. Despite his involvement with the seemingly endless drug and gang investigations, the day had been relatively slow for the Las Cruces Police Department. As soon as he reached his little adobe house on the edge of the gallery district, he dumped his shoulder holster and Kevlar vest, snapped a lead on Athena and headed for the dog park. Even though the park was about five blocks from his home, the walk was a welcome bit of quiet, fresh air, and his first chance to put the worrisome and wearying details of the day into perspective.


Thank God for Athena. She gave him a reason to get out, as well as a precious dose of sanity and unwavering loyalty to balance the seamy side of life in which he had his nose rubbed every day. Working vice had not been an uplifting experience. Working drugs and gangs was even more depressing. Athena gave him something totally outside that dismal world.


Chapter 2