Chapter 1 - WATCH YOUR KID
Rex lunged once.
Emma Bennett screamed.
The dog caught her hand, released immediately, and backed away barking.
“MOM!”
Claire ran across the shared front-yard strip and pulled her eight-year-old daughter behind her.
A small cut on Emma’s hand was bleeding.
Claire wrapped it with the dish towel she had carried from the porch.
Then she whipped toward Diane Miller.
“YOUR DOG BIT MY DAUGHTER!”
Diane approached from her driveway.
Slow.
Unbothered.
She glanced at Emma’s hand.
Then shrugged.
“Watch your kid better.”
Claire stood.
“ARE YOU INSANE?!”
Diane folded her arms.
Claire pointed at Rex.
“He made her bleed!”
“Then teach her to stay away.”
Emma cried harder.
Claire pulled her close.
“You’re blaming my child?”
Diane scoffed.
“Control your daughter.”
Claire went silent.
She turned toward Rex.
The dog stood near Diane’s side, panting, body tense.
Claire’s anger shifted.
Something about him looked wrong.
Not rabid.
Not wild.
Overstimulated.
He kept looking toward a small black marker near the edge of Diane’s lawn.
Then back toward Emma.
A faint electronic chirp sounded.
Rex flinched.
Claire heard it.
So did Diane.
Diane’s smirk disappeared.
Claire looked at the marker.
Then at the collar around Rex’s neck.
“What was that?”
Diane stepped between Claire and the dog.
“Nothing.”
Claire’s eyes narrowed.
Emma whispered:
“Mom… that sound always happens when I walk past.”
Claire froze.
Always?
Diane grabbed Rex’s collar.
“Go inside, Claire.”
Claire held her daughter tighter.
“No.”
Diane’s face hardened.
Claire pointed at the collar.
May you like
“What have you been doing to that dog?”
For the first time, Diane looked frightened.
