The little girl hadn’t spoken since the night her mother was found on the kitchen floor! Then the court dog lowered his head-and she whispered one sentence toward the defense table…

but she kept coming back.

When Judge Whitcomb called the lunch recess, Lily slid down from the witness chair and wrapped both arms around Boone’s neck. The dog accepted the full weight of her small body as if that, too, had been part of his training.

In the hallway, Ava leaned against the wall near the drinking fountain and closed her eyes for one breath.continue reading …