Lobo sat patiently in the back of the van, with his arms around Officer Biscuit. The dog’s ears were pricked up. He was curious about where they were going, but he wasn’t frightened. He trusted his friend, Lobo.

The drive seemed to go on forever, turning around corners and jostling over bumps.

Lobo missed Veronica already. He hoped she would sleep peacefully for a long time before she learned of his treachery.

At last the van stopped.

The driver stepped back, past the freezers, to address Lobo.

“Are you alright, my friend?” Ajeet asked.

“Yes,” Lobo answered. “We are fine. Thank you for your help.”

“It was my pleasure,” Ajeet replied. He was smiling, but his dark eyes looked worried.

“We will be okay,” Lobo assured him. “I just need to clear Officer Biscuit's name and then I can return.”

“Who is Officer Biscuit?” Ajeet asked, sounding fascinated.

“This is Officer Biscuit,” Lobo replied, indicating the dog.

“I see,” Ajeet said slowly. “Well, I wish you both good luck. May I offer you some ice cream for your journey?”

“You have already done too much for us,” Lobo said. It would be wrong to accept the treat, even though he was sorely tempted.

“I insist,” Ajeet said, opening one of the freezers with a flourish.

Lobo watched as his friend whipped out a glorious popsicle in the colors of the United States flag, and then a small paper cup.

“What’s that?” Lobo asked, accepting the popsicle.

“Dog ice cream,” Ajeet said with a grin.

“Did you hear that, Officer Biscuit?” Lobo hoped his own delight would be communicated to the dog.

Officer Biscuit grinned up at him, his tongue drooping out of his mouth to the side as if he understood Lobo’s pleased reaction.

“Call me again if you need me,” Ajeet said earnestly.

“I will,” Lobo said. “I only wish I had a telephone so that you could call me if you ever needed my assistance.”

“That’s okay,” Ajeet said, his smile telling Lobo his friend felt better. “Take care of yourself, Lobo. You too, Officer Biscuit. Take care of each other.”

Lobo climbed carefully out of the van and Biscuit leapt out as gracefully as a shooting star.

They watched together as the van drove away. Ajeet had turned on the music. The charming, tinkling tune was a perfect match for Lobo’s optimism.

He looked down at Biscuit.

The dog’s tail had lowered and his tongue was back in his mouth.

“Do not worry,” Lobo told him. “We will figure everything out. But first let’s have some ice cream.”

He led the dog to the side of the road and peeled the paper lid off the cup, then held it down.

Biscuit sniffed at it delicately, gazing up at Lobo with his beautiful amber eyes.

“It’s good, I promise,” Lobo told him.

Biscuit took a careful lick, then another.

Lobo put the cup on the ground and Biscuit enjoyed his cold treat, chasing it up and down the roadside with his tongue.

Lobo carefully unwrapped the popsicle.

The sweet taste made him think of kissing Veronica.

His running away with Lobo would make her very unhappy.

And it was against the rules of the academy.

Lobo had done a wrong thing.

But it would be more wrong to see Veronica throw away her career, or Officer Biscuit lose his career and his life.

The dogs needed Veronica. And she needed them.

No, he had taken the only action that could save them all. He would now find out what had really happened yesterday. Officer Biscuit would help him. He was sure of it.

And if they did solve the mystery, maybe Veronica would forgive him for running off.

He hoped desperately that she would.

Lobo felt his heart, stretched taut like elastic between himself and the kennel where Veronica slept. He had chosen her as his mate even though he had not yet spoken the words.

But even if she never forgave him, he would rather be ripped out of his body and sent back to Aerie, unmated and in disgrace, than allow her to risk losing her happiness.

Officer Biscuit looked up at him expectantly, a bit of ice cream dripping from his whiskers.

“Yes, my friend,” Lobo told him. “We will fix everything. We have to.”