“They must be selling them over the Internet.”

“Exactly, but from what I understand, they post a picture of a dog that belongs to someone in the ring. Even if I surf the Web, I won’t necessarily see Lexi’s picture. People who respond to the ad are told to bring cash and meet the seller at a public place like the parking lot of a fast-food restaurant, where the exchange takes place.”

Adam could understand why Whitney sounded so discouraged. If dognappers had stolen Lexi, the retriever would be long gone by morning. “I guess thieves remove a dog’s collar, but what about Lexi’s microchip? Won’t that tell who she really belongs to?”

“Yes, if a vet has a reason to check the chip in her neck. It’s routinely scanned by animal control, but that means a dog has to be picked up first. It happens, but people are usually careful with purebreds, so animal control doesn’t have any reason to check them.” She lowered her head and studied her hands, clutched together in her lap. “A chip’s easy to remove. I could do it with a long needle, but they don’t usually bother.”

Adam had to admit finding Whitney’s dog didn’t sound promising. If a pack of coyotes hadn’t dragged off the retriever, thieves must have taken her. A thought occurred to him. “Why didn’t they take any of the other dogs? Didn’t you say they were smaller? Wouldn’t they be easier to handle?”

“True, but certain breeds are more in demand. Golden retrievers, pugs and Labs rank right up there. It’s also possible they had an order for a female retriever. From what I’ve been told, thieves target dogs they know they can sell instantly.”

“You mean Chinese cresteds aren’t at the top of the list?”

Whitney attempted a laugh. “Most people wouldn’t recognize one. Until Kate Hudson starred in How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days, Chinese cresteds weren’t on the radar screen.”

“Hey! My uncle told me the same crested won the ugliest dog in the world contest two years in a row.”

“That dog was pitiful. Most Chinese cresteds look more like Jasper.”

That wasn’t saying much, in Adam’s opinion. It was hard to believe people actually bred dogs to look like Jasper. It was even more difficult to understand how shy little Jasper had become an international champion. Go figure. Still, he had to admit he was developing a soft spot for Jasper. It was hard not to like a dog who adored you.

“Do you think it’s possible your ex took Lexi? He seemed really angry with you.”

“I can’t see Ryan taking her and leaving the gate ajar. The other dogs could have run off, and I would be in serious trouble.” The words weren’t out of her mouth one second before she gasped.

RYAN STARED AT HIS COMPUTER screen. He’d made a list of the bills he owed and ranked them by order of importance. The bank was already sending late notices on his home loan. He was behind on the second mortgage and home equity loan as well. He didn’t have any hope of paying off his debts if his new partners realized his financial plight and dropped him from the new cosmetic surgery group.

Talk about hell on earth.

Maybe if he took what little cash he had, he could play the slots and parlay it into enough to hit the tables. With luck, he could run it into real money. Perhaps he could win enough to make all or part of the house payment.

Those problems paled when compared with the threat from Domenic Coriz. Being in debt was one thing; being dead was another. It wasn’t an idle threat. The Indian tribes in San Diego County earned megabucks from their casinos. The operation had spawned a rough element that used mob tactics ruthlessly. They would kill Ryan without a second thought and dump his body on the rez where no one would ever find it.

Whitney had to sign those papers-immediately. He desperately needed a debt-consolidation loan. The interest rate would be stratospheric but it would just be temporary. When the cosmetic surgery group was up and running, he would pay off all his loans.

In the distance, the doorbell chimed. He glanced at his Rolex. Nearly eleven o’clock. Who would be at his door so late? Domenic or his goon flashed into his mind. They might hassle him at home. Sweat peppered the skin just under the hair on his forehead.

He heard Ashley answer the front door and voices drifted across the large living room to the back of the house, where he’d converted a rear bedroom into an office. It sounded like a woman.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he heard Ashley protest in a frantic voice.

“You have my dog! I know you do. Don’t deny it.” He recognized Whitney’s voice. “How could you steal my dog right out of her yard? Isn’t it enough that you have my husband, my house?”

Oh, shit! Just what he didn’t need. Whitney going postal on Ashley. The deeper rumble of a male voice sent him dashing through the living room where Ashley had been rearranging furniture again.

“We need to check the house and the yard,” a stern male voice boomed through the large entry.

Ryan rushed into the foyer. “What’s going on?”

He slammed to a stop, stunned to see Whitney and that jerk who’d ordered him off Whitney’s driveway standing in the entry. Ashley was flushed and her lower lip was trembling. He raced to her side and put a protective arm around her.

“Lexi’s missing!” Whitney pointed at him. “You took her, didn’t you?”

“What? You’ve hit a new low.”

“No, I haven’t,” she yelled in a strident voice he hadn’t heard once during their marriage. “You stole Lexi to get back at me.”

“I wouldn’t take Lexi. You know that.”

“I didn’t think you’d hurt me, either,” Whitney shrieked. “No telling what you’ll do next.”

Out of the corner of his eye, Ryan saw Ashley gaze up at him, a questioning look in her eyes. Shit! Why did she have to frighten Ashley? He’d momentarily lost his temper-that’s all.

“I didn’t hurt you. I just needed you to see reason and sign the papers.”

“I want my dog back. You got this damn house and the furniture. All I asked for was Lexi. I want her back-now.”

“I don’t have her.” He glanced at the powerfully built man with Whitney. He was frowning at Ryan like he wanted to deck him. “I swear I don’t have the dog.”

“Since this is legally still half Whitney’s house, she has the right to look around and see if you have Lexi.” The man spoke in a low, level voice, but his commanding presence reminded Ryan of Domenic Coriz.

“I don’t appreciate your barging in here and scaring my wife,” Ryan told Adam, but Adam could see the wimpy doctor was shaken. “I didn’t take Lexi. Why would I?”

Adam had been on homicide long enough and had interrogated enough lowlifes to realize Ryan Fordham was telling the truth. They weren’t going to find the dog here.

“You took Lexi to get back at me for not signing the papers,” Whitney insisted.

“Oh, for Christ’s sake.” Ryan ground out the words. “I’m not that childish. If you acted your age and signed the document you’d already agreed to, we could go our separate ways.”

Adam didn’t know exactly what was in the document or why Whitney had refused to sign it, but Fordham made Whitney sound peevish. Adam fought the impulse to turn and leave. He never became involved in family feuds-particularly divorces. Tempers flared and emotions ran deep. He didn’t want to be in the middle of this.

“Look around.” Ashley waved a manicured hand sporting a diamond the size of a golf ball. “You won’t find her.”

Adam nudged Whitney. “See if Lexi’s here. I’ll wait for you.”

Whitney dashed to the right, heading toward the kitchen. From where Adam was standing he could see the wavering blue-white light reflected on the windows. Evidently there was a pool beyond the house, and Whitney had mentioned a dog run where Lexi once had a doghouse.

“What happened?” Ryan Fordham curtly asked him. Again, Adam had the distinct impression the doctor hadn’t a clue about Lexi’s whereabouts.