“Mr. Vance, stand up and put your hands behind your back. Unlawful disposal of and cruelty to a registered service animal is a felony, and I’m adding a count for putting your hands on your daughter-in-law.”

“Over a dog?” Arthur sputtered.

Martha started shrieking as the second officer told her she was being detained as well — as an accomplice, and for the surrender she’d signed off on. I gave Lawson the shelter slip from my pocket.

“This is where they took her this afternoon,” I said. “Please — I need to know if I can still get her.”

He looked at the time stamp and got on his radio.

Chapter 8 — The Shelter

The county shelter was twenty minutes across town, and I drove it in fifteen, Colin on the phone the whole way with a night-desk volunteer who kept saying please hold.