Jasper walked away from them, grabbed a doggie blanket that was tucked under one of the waiting room chairs, brought it back, and laid it on Frank’s lap.

Megan smiled. “Aww, he heard you’re tired and he brought you a blanket.”

Dr. Dew patted Jasper on his head. “You’re one smart dog.”

Jasper sat up a bit straighter and woofed in agreement.

Frank couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t right about this animal. But as he watched Megan fawning over Jasper, he knew that what he thought no longer mattered.

Chapter Two

“Juan, I can’t have my brother paying my bills for me. I’m getting a part-time job so I can help and you don’t have to kill yourself.”

With his cell phone to his ear, Juan Gutierrez took a deep breath and silently prayed for patience. Miguel had only just started his first year at Georgia Tech, and now he was thinking about taking a job? Juan looked around the research lab. He didn’t make great money here, but he made enough to keep Juan in school. Barely.

“Miguel, I told you I have it covered. I want you to focus on your studies, that’s it. Besides, Mom’s life insurance left enough to just cover your expenses.”

“Are you sure?”

“Of course I’m sure,” Juan lied.

The truth was, the life insurance money had run out years ago. But if Miguel knew that, the kid would probably drop out of college altogether. Juan hated lying to his little brother, but if that was what it took to keep him focused on school…

“Still,” Miguel said, “I can handle a part-time job. It’s no big deal.”

Taking a deep breath, Juan spoke as calmly as he could. “Trust me, Miguel. You’ll have more than enough on your plate without having to worry about catching the bus to some dead-end job. And you know as well as I do that you finishing school was Mom’s biggest wish. Just let me make the monthly payments for school, and you worry about your grades. You’ll help out more by keeping that scholarship.”

Miguel had secured a partial academic scholarship—contingent on good grades—and without it, Juan wasn’t sure how he’d afford Georgia Tech’s tuition.

Miguel sighed. “Well, okay. I’ll do the best I can. And thanks.”

A voice in the background said, “Hey Miguel, you up for some hoops?”

“Juan, I’ll talk to you later. Love you, bro.”

“Love you too.”

Just as Juan hung up, the badge reader at the lab entrance beeped, and a gray-haired security guard walked in and scanned the room. When his gaze landed on Juan, his eyes narrowed. “What are you doing here?”