THE HARNESS THAT TORE LOOSE

The harness must have torn loose from Bravo before the dog escaped.

It lay beneath a shelf.

Voices were audible.

Mercer.

“Reed?”

Another man answered:

“Gone.”

“The dog?”

“No sign.”

Porter:

“We need fire crews.”

Mercer:

“No.”

Silence.

Then:

“The fire solves this.”

Porter said:

“There are men inside.”

Mercer answered:

“There were thieves inside.”

Porter:

“Howard.”

Mercer’s voice became cold.