Amy had read about it on the computers in their school library, worried more than ever before that Rover could access their files. The local paper’s website had called it a “freak accident.” They claimed there had to be a gas leak, or some sort of toxic chemical that spread through the water supply. What else could cause thirteen dogs, eighteen cats, and five rabbits to all drop dead at the exact same time? There’d been no signs of pain, no screaming or barking, nothing. Just one moment they were alive. The next, they weren’t.

In the next room, Katie giggled, “Silly boy.”

Amy shuddered. She knew exactly what could cause it. She missed her sweet, adorable Stormy, but she wondered if Mom was right. Coop and Hutch never left the basement anymore, mostly huddling near their litter boxes; maybe they deserved a better home, too. Maybe she should give them away.

Katie skipped into the room, and Amy realized that she missed her, too. Sure, Katie could be a silly baby sometimes, but she was Amy’s sister. They used to play together. And now …

Rover calmly followed Katie into the room. With her back to him, the dog eyed the rest of the family with his usual icy hatred; the minute Katie turned back to him, he was all smiling mouth and lolling tongue.

“Mommy, Rover wishes I could stay home from school today and play with him,” Katie said sweetly.

Mom and Dad shared a glance. Amy couldn’t believe they were even considering it—but then again, if it were up to her, what would she do?

“No, honey,” said Dad firmly. “You have to go to school. You can’t just stay at home all day.”

Katie pouted momentarily, and a spear of terror shot through Amy. What would he do? What would happen if Katie said, Sic ’em, Rover? But, thankfully, her little sister hadn’t yet picked up on just how intimidated they all were, and said, “Okay. Come on, boy, I gotta get my shoes on.”

She wandered out into the hallway, Rover walking after her. Mom rose, cleared her plate, and mumbled something about taking Katie to school. Dad and Amy ate silently for a moment, listening to the sounds of Katie talking to Mom, wondering how quickly they could get out of the house after Katie left them alone with Rover.

As though reading Amy’s mind, Dad looked up at her and said, “I’m working on it.”

“How?” was all Amy could ask.

“I have a recommendation for a professional,” said Dad. “One of my work connections used him. I described our situation, and he said he thought this guy could give us a hand. That he’d helped families like ours in the past.”

“You told someone about this?” said Amy, nodding to the next room.