I tilted my head. “How is Biz?”

“Recovery took months. We weren’t sure he would make it, but he did. The department retired him, along with me. He sleeps in my bedroom now.” As a police K9, Bismarck had always lived in a kennel behind Teo’s little bungalow, ready and willing at any moment to go out on patrol with his master.

“I knew he was living with you,” I said. “My sources were at least that good, although not the part about sleeping in your bedroom.”

“Biz knows you, likes you. He may be old now, but he’s plenty feisty. And he’s great with children. Janice and Harry have two. He does sleepovers with their kids. They love him.”

I tried to imagine having Bismarck in my house, living with me, watching over me. “He saved my life.”

“He may well have. But he won’t hold that against you.”

“You’re sure about this? You would trust me?”

“I might. He’s in the next building. Let’s go see him. If he goes for your throat, it’s probably not a good idea.”

I put my hand on his arm. Just a light touch, and quick. “You really thought about coming after me when I jogged by? To talk this through so we could be friends again?”

“I wasn’t sure a conversation was a good idea.”

“And now?”

He shook his head. “I’m still not sure. But it appears we can be civil.”

“With all our baggage, you’re still willing to help me?”

“It’s possible I’m so weighted down by all that baggage I can’t see over the top of it.”

“No, I think it’s better than that. Maybe we’ve lightened it enough that we can finally move on.”

His expression grew serious. “On one condition. If I ever tell you to be careful, and you decide I’m wrong, Bismarck’s gone for good. I won’t put my dog in danger again, even if you think leaping in with both feet is a great plan for yourself and those little girls.”

I heard his ultimatum and knew he was right. “That will work if you’re willing to talk through the alternatives first.”

“Biz will still remember you. He won’t hold the past against you.” He started down another hallway and I followed.

Bismarck’s owner still remembered me, just the way I remembered him. Would he ever not hold the past against me? I told myself we’d come further today than I’d ever imagined. I would just be grateful.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

I took myself out to lunch after my visit to Confidence K-9s, sitting at Seabank Seafood overlooking the water and replaying my reintroduction to Bismarck.

Dogs are so much more straightforward than people. He had been asleep in the office when Teo’s kennel tour took me there, but when I walked in, he lumbered to his feet to check me out. Then his tail began to wag. And wag. And wag. I’d dispensed with holding out my hand, got down on my knees and held out my arms. He leaped into them, nearly knocking me flat. I was thoroughly licked.