Lucy lay down, and Shadow curled beside her, their bodies pressed together like two pieces of a puzzle finally finding their match. Lucy rested her head on Shadow’s shoulder, and the big dog let out a contented sigh.
“We never did figure out how they know each other,” Sam said, watching them.
Lennox shook her head. “No. We didn’t.”
“Maybe they worked a case together,” Kevin offered. “Before Shadow was yours. Some K-9 training program or joint operation.”
“Maybe.” Lennox didn’t sound convinced. “Or maybe dogs just know things we don’t.”
Sam crouched down, scratching behind Lucy’s ears. The dog’s tail thumped, but she didn’t lift her head from Shadow’s shoulder.
“Lucy’s never wrong about people,” Sam said quietly. “I should have paid more attention. She knew Shaw wasn’t the enemy. She knew from the start.”
“Dogs are smarter than we are,” Lennox said. “Always have been.”
Bridget appeared with a tray of appetizers. “Food’s ready!”
They gathered in the kitchen, crowded together in a way that should have felt cramped but instead felt right. Plates were passed, drinks were poured, and for a little while, they were just people sharing a meal.
Wyatt found himself leaning against the counter between Jo and Lennox, with Lucy and Shadow were sprawled beneath the table. Kevin and Bridget sat at the table, close enough that their shoulders touched with every movement.
“So,” Bridget said, pointing her fork at Lennox. “What happens now? For you, I mean.”
Lennox took a sip of her beer before answering. “I go back to DC. File my reports. Face whatever music comes from running an unauthorized investigation.”
“Will you be in trouble?” Bridget’s voice was soft with concern.
“Probably.” Lennox shrugged. “But I brought down a fifteen-year mole and got justice for two dead agents. That buys a lot of goodwill.”
“And after that?” Jo asked.
Lennox was quiet for a moment. Her eyes drifted to Shadow, still curled against Lucy beneath the table.
“There’s a unit,” she said finally. “Classified. They handle the cases that fall through the cracks—corruption, deep cover operations gone wrong, the stuff no one else wants to touch.” She met Jo’s eyes. “They’ve been watching my work. Apparently, they like what they see.”
“Sounds dangerous,” Sam said.
“Sounds like exactly my kind of trouble.” Lennox almost smiled. “We’ll see. Nothing’s certain yet.”
“Will you come back?” Bridget asked. “To White Rock, I mean. To visit?”
Lennox looked down at Shadow, at the way he’d pressed himself against Lucy like he’d found something he didn’t want to lose.
“Maybe,” she said. “I think Shadow would like that.”
“Lucy would too,” Sam said quietly.
The dogs seemed to understand. Shadow’s tail thumped once, and Lucy let out a soft huff that might have been agreement.
After dinner, they migrated to the living room—some on the couch, some in chairs, Kevin and Bridget sharing the loveseat in a way that made Jo smile and look away.
Sam raised his bottle. “I want to propose a toast.”
Everyone quieted, turning to face him.
“Three weeks ago, we caught a case that turned out to be a lot more than a body in the woods. We found out things about each other—hard things, scary things—and we had every reason to fall apart.” Sam’s eyes moved around the room, touching on each of them in turn. “But we didn’t. We came together. We trusted each other, even when trust was hard. And tonight, because of that, a killer is behind bars and the people we love are safe.”
He paused, his voice roughening.