I'm half-impressed, half-alarmed.Who is he, really?FBI agents shouldn't be criminally good at doing these things.Right?I'm starting to feel suspicious—-but all thoughts of Flint fly out of the window when the door finally swings open.

My baby!

I'm about to run inside when Flint abruptly pulls me back, his expression one of disbelief.

That's Sunlight?

I nod with a mixture of relief and pride.Yes!

He takes his phone out and shows me the photo that I sent him.

Oh.

Right.

I smile at him weakly.That photo was two months ago,I mouth.

Flint looks at me as if he'sthisclose to strangling my neck.Two! Fucking! Months!

I throw my hands up helplessly. Sunlight is a growing boy, and it's not my fault that dogs like him can easily double in size in a matter of weeks.

Sunlight suddenly barks, and the sound makes me flinch while Flint's body turns rigid with tension.

Flint's gaze narrows at me.Can you keep him quiet?

I'll try...

That's what I planned to say, but when Sunlight barks for the second time, everything just happens so fast—-

Oh God.

Sunlight is in Flint's arms—-

No, God, no!

And he can no longer make a sound with Flint mercilessly stabbing my dog in the neck.

The End of the Road

FLINT CHECKED ELIZABETHin the rearview mirror as she slowly ran her hands over her still-unconscious dog and inspected him for injuries while sniffing back tears.

"Everything okay?"

"I'm n-not sure. I felt something under his fur..."

"Is he bleeding?"

"No, thank God. Maybe I'm just overreacting. Or maybe I'm still in shock. I can't believe Sunlight's with me again, and..."

He saw her swallow hard as her gaze sought his.

"Thank you," she whispered. "I don't know how I'll ever pay you back—-"

"You can start by telling me why you'd think I'd be the type to kill your dog just to stop him from barking."

Elizabeth's face reddened. "I'm so, so sorry."

He shot her an unimpressed look. "That's it?"