Chapter 4 - The Ties That Bind
A mile away, Sarah’s car splashed through the flooded roads. Leo was asleep in the backseat, but his little hands were clenched, his face restless.
"Hang on, Rex," Sarah muttered, her knuckles white on the steering wheel.
She finally found the turn-off for the Ocala National Forest. Following Maria’s directions, she drove down a muddy dirt road until she saw a small, secluded wooden cabin. A light was on inside.
She parked and ran to the porch, banging on the door while shielding her face from the torrential rain.
The door opened to reveal a rugged, bearded man in his late fifties. He had a prosthetic leg and eyes that were sharp and alert. "Can I help you?"
"Are you Marcus?" Sarah gasped, wiping rainwater from her eyes. "Marcus Vance? The K-9 handler?"
The man's eyes narrowed. "Who's asking?"
"My name is Sarah Miller. It's about Rex. He's at Shadow Kennels. Silas is going to kill him."
The moment she said Rex, Marcus's entire demeanor changed. He grabbed her arm, pulling her inside the warm, dry cabin. "Rex? He’s alive? They told me he was euthanized in Germany after the incident!"
"No, he's here. Silas and Thomas are holding him. They're going to put him down to cover up Thomas's corruption," Sarah explained quickly. "My son... my two-year-old son touched him. Rex didn't hurt him. He protected him. Please, Marcus, you have to help me save him."
Marcus sat down, his face pale. He looked at a framed photograph on his mantle—a younger version of himself, smiling next to a sleek, beautiful young Rex.
"Thomas was my junior partner," Marcus said, his voice shaking with a mixture of rage and grief. "He framed Rex to save his own skin. I tried to investigate, but they forced me into retirement. If Silas is involved... this goes deeper than just one dog. Silas is running an illegal breeding and trafficking ring through that shelter."
"We don't have time for a legal battle," Sarah said desperately. "They're going to kill him tonight. Or tomorrow morning."
May you like
Marcus stood up, grabbing a heavy tactical jacket from the rack. He walked to a gun safe in the corner, pulling out a heavy-duty flashlight and a pair of wire cutters.
"Then we aren't waiting for the law," Marcus said, his eyes burning with resolve. "We're going to get my dog."
