His jaw tightened.
“I gave him this insignia.”
“I remember.”
“He bit me when I pinned it on.”
“He thought you were stealing his dinner.”
“He was probably right.”
For a moment, neither of us felt helpless.
Then the state coordinator approached.
“We have the transfer van on traffic cameras.”
“Where?”
“Northwest on Route 63.”
“What facilities are along that route?”
“Two rescues, one municipal shelter, and a private kennel that accepts court-seized animals.”
“Call all of them.”
“We are.”
A young handler named Sergeant Blake spread maps across a vehicle hood.
He had worked with Major before deployment.
“When did he last receive medication?” Blake asked.
“This morning.”
“What happens if he misses tonight?”
“Pain and stiffness.”
“Commands still current?”
“Yes.”
“English and hand signals?”
“Yes.”
“Response to confined spaces?”
“He tolerates them.”
“Response to strangers using catch poles?”
I looked at him.
“He tolerates almost anything until someone threatens his handler.”
Blake nodded.
“Then we need to find him before someone decides to test that.”
Across the street, Linda opened her front door.
She had changed into a cardigan.
“This is ridiculous.”
Deputy Harris turned.
“Mrs. Whitmore, return inside.”
“This is my neighborhood.”
“Tonight it's an active investigation.”
“You cannot park that truck there.”
“The county can.”
“It blocks emergency access.”
“It is the emergency access.”
Linda looked toward Rhodes.
“Are you in charge?”
Rhodes ignored her.
She raised her voice.
“I asked you a question.”
Rhodes finally turned.
“Mrs. Whitmore?”
“Yes.”
“I am Colonel Rhodes.”
“You need to remove these vehicles.”
“No.”
“This is private HOA property.”
“The streets are county-maintained.”
She opened her mouth.
Rhodes continued.
“You removed Major from Sergeant Mercer's secured property.”
“That animal was dangerous.”
“Major served under my command.”
“I don't care what tricks he performed in the Army.”
Silence fell across the street.
Rhodes stepped closer.
“Major located an explosive device beneath a vehicle carrying six soldiers.”
“I was one of them.”
Linda glanced toward her house.
“He was still a dog.”
“Yes.”
Rhodes stopped.
“And you are still under investigation.”
“You cannot threaten me.”
“I didn't.”
“This is intimidation.”
“This is a search for the animal you stole.”
“I did not steal him.”
“Then identify where you took him.”
“I already told the police.”
“You gave them three different answers.”
“I was upset.”
“You drank tea while telling Sergeant Mercer his partner might already be dead.”
For once, Linda had no answer.
Rhodes turned away.
The dismissal hurt her more than shouting ever could.
Isolation Room Three
At 8:36, a veterinary technician called.
A German shepherd had arrived at a private kennel.
The paperwork listed him as a surrendered bite-risk animal.
No bite history was attached.
The driver had been instructed to request immediate isolation and next-day euthanasia evaluation.
“Is he alive?” I asked.
“Yes.”
“Where?”
The kennel was seventy-four miles away.
I headed for my truck.
Rhodes stopped me.
“You are not driving.”
“Sir.”
“You've been running on anger for three hours.”
“I can drive.”
“You can barely keep your hands still.”
I looked down.
He was right.
Sergeant Blake took the keys.
“I'll drive.”
The trip felt longer than any convoy route I remembered.
Rain tapped against the windshield.
Major's collar remained wrapped around my fist.
At 9:42, we reached the kennel.
A woman in blue scrubs met us.
“I'm Dana.”
“I scanned him.”
“Where is he?”
“Isolation room three.”
“Is he hurt?”
“He has bruising around his neck and mild dehydration.”
My stomach tightened.
“His right hip is painful.”
“He has arthritis.”
“We gave him water, but no medication. The intake records listed none.”
I held up the black binder.
“I have everything.”
Dana led us down the corridor.
The smell of disinfectant and wet fur filled the building.
At the end of the hallway, she stopped.
“He hasn't allowed anyone close enough to remove the catch loop.”
My blood went cold.
“They left it on him?”
“The driver said he was too dangerous.”
“He is terrified.”
“We know.”
A narrow window looked into the room.
Major stood in the corner.
The metal control pole lay on the floor.
The cable was still loosely around his neck.
His coat was wet.
His body trembled.