TWENTY-ONE

TRICK OR TREAT

Brigit

It had been a long shot. But it had paid off.

Megan hadn’t asked her to trail anyone today. But when Brigit’s nose picked up the smell of the same man she’d scented when her partner had ordered her to trail from the fire station a few days earlier, the dog thought she might earn a treat by pointing out that his smell was on a blanket in the store. Megan hadn’t given her just one treat, but four. Score!

Brigit had caught whiffs of him as they’d driven near the lake, too. He smelled of cedar and sweat and his own unique human odor. But that was then and this was now. Now they were home and Megan was opening a can of dog food in the kitchen for Brigit’s dinner. She put her paws on the counter and wagged her tail in encouragement. Hurry up! I’m hungry!

Megan dumped the contents of the can into her bowl and placed it on the floor. “Chow time.”

Yum!