He thought he was checking out illegal logging in the Idaho mountains-until he found a German Shepherd locked in a frozen cage, staring at him like it had been waiting for exactly one person

a bark, not quite a growl.

Grant glanced at the rearview mirror.

The road behind them was empty. Snow, trees, the gray curve of the last switchback. No headlights. No movement.

Still, the dog stared into the mirror as if something had followed them and then learned how not to be seen.

Grant eased off the gas. He scanned the ditch lines, the higher slope,continue reading …