Veronica lay on the floor of the kennel, gazing out at the band of sky visible over the door. The night was clear and she could see stars twinkling against the velvet darkness.

Biscuit lay beside her. He was running in his sleep, his paws twitched and he snuffled once or twice. The big Shepherd was at his most puppyish when he was asleep.

The sound of footsteps alerted her to someone entering the kennel.

“Veronica,” Lobo’s voice whispered.

“I’m in here, with Biscuit,” she whispered back.

“I brought us some pillows and a blanket,” he told her as he joined her on the floor.

Us.

“You don’t have to stay out here with me,” she told him over the lump in her throat.

“He’s dreaming,” Lobo observed, leaning over her to look at Biscuit.

“Yeah,” Veronica said with a smile. “He always dreams of running.”

“He is a good officer,” Lobo said with great respect. “He would never harm anyone.”

“When he was getting his shots last week he twisted his head out of my hands before I could stop him,” she said. “He turned and licked the vet in the face while the syringe was still in his hip. She said he was the sweetest tempered dog she’d ever met.”

“He has a kind heart,” Lobo agreed. “He loves all humans and wishes only to serve.”

The way he spoke - it was almost as if he had been in regular conversation with the dog.

“What will you say to the animal police when they come?” Lobo asked.

“I don’t know,” Veronica said. “But I won’t let them take him. I would rather lose my job permanently than see him put down.”

Biscuit wagged his tail in his sleep.

“Is that what would happen?” Lobo asked. “If you refused to let them take him would you lose your job forever?”

Veronica shrugged.

“I hope not. But I can’t worry about the consequences. I have to think about Biscuit first.”

“You are very brave,” Lobo said approvingly.

“Thanks,” she whispered back.

“Lean up, so I can put a pillow under you,” he suggested.

She lifted her head and he slid a pillow underneath. It felt good. She was still lying on her back on the floor of a dog kennel, but it was better than before.

Lobo put down another pillow for himself and stretched out on his side, facing her and Biscuit.

Veronica felt the tension begin to drain from her chest, just a little, between the warm bodies of her best friend and the man she was beginning to care about.

“You should try to get some rest,” Lobo said quietly. “I’ll keep watch over you.”

And although she was already surrounded by nearly a dozen Schutzhund-trained police dogs, Veronica did feel safer.

She didn’t think sleep would come for her, but eventually, it did.

Veronica awoke to the sounds of the birds singing in the monastery field and the hum of a car’s engine.

She opened her eyes and sat, blinking in the sunshine until her eyes adjusted.

Morning already?

Between her nervousness and the hard floor, she was stunned that she’d been able to sleep at all. Thank goodness for sweet Lobo.

She turned to thank him, but he wasn’t beside her anymore.

And neither was Biscuit.

She leapt to her feet.

They weren’t in the entry either.

She ran outside, kicking up dust in the enclosure.

The engine she’d heard earlier hadn’t been a car.

The animal control van was driving away. It passed the old academy building and turned out onto the main road.

Veronica’s jaw dropped as she stared after it, horrified.

Lobo had sold her out. He’d taken Biscuit away without even waking her.

Her heart felt like it was ripping itself out of her body. Dry sobs heaved her chest, and her empty stomach lurched.

How could I have been so stupid?

She should have known better than to think she could trust anyone. She had a lifetime of experience to teach her better than that.

And now her best friend was going to pay the price for her weakness.