He thought he was stopping for a stray dog in the snow-until he saw what she was hiding beneath her body

property, and until then the animals were to remain with him under the emergency hold. He repeated the information back, thanked the dispatcher, and stood for a moment with the cold pushing against his face.

Temporary, he reminded himself.

Inside, the timer chirped.

He went back in.

An hour later, there was another knock, lighter this time but no less continue reading …