“Does he retain operational information?”
“Not like a computer.”
“But?”
“He recognizes people.”
Daniel became silent.
“Places?”
“Yes.”
“Scents?”
“Yes.”
“Patterns?”
“Yes.”
Claire looked toward the hallway.
“That's why they trained him.”
Daniel understood.
“So someone may believe he can identify something.”
“Or someone.”
The next morning, Robert Hayes returned.
He brought a new file.
Claire immediately knew something was wrong.
“What happened?”
Robert sat down.
“We identified one of the people connected to the surveillance vehicle.”
“Who?”
Robert placed a photograph on the table.
Claire stared.
She knew him.
Not personally.
But she had seen him.
He was standing beside Victoria at an HOA meeting.
A man named Gregory Pierce.
He had been one of the board members.
Claire looked up.
“Gregory?”
Robert nodded.
“Former military contractor.”
Daniel's expression changed.
“Former?”
“Yes.”
“What did he do?”
“Logistics.”
Claire looked at the photograph.
“What does he want with us?”
Robert leaned forward.
“That is what we don't know.”
“Then why arrest him?”
“We aren't.”
“Why not?”
“Because we don't yet have enough.”
Claire frowned.
“So we're waiting?”
“We're investigating.”
Daniel stood.
“While someone watches our house?”
Robert nodded.
“We've increased protection.”
Claire's voice became sharper.
“Protection isn't the same as answers.”
Robert looked at her.
“You're right.”
He placed another photograph on the table.
This one showed Gregory Pierce entering a warehouse.
The building was industrial.
No sign.
No visible company name.
Claire looked at it.
“When was this?”
“Last week.”
“Who else?”
Robert pointed.
A second man appeared in the frame.
Claire didn't recognize him.
But Atlas did.
The Shepherd suddenly stood.
His eyes locked onto the photograph.
Claire noticed.
“Atlas?”
The dog moved toward the table.
Robert looked at him.
“That's interesting.”
Atlas sniffed the photograph.
Then he backed away.
Claire looked at Robert.
“What does that mean?”
Robert's voice became quiet.
“He recognizes the scent.”
Claire's heart stopped.
“You're sure?”
Robert nodded.
“We've seen this behavior before.”
Daniel stepped closer.
“From where?”
Robert looked at Claire.
“That's what we need to find out.”
The next forty-eight hours became a race.