Chapter 6 - Only a Man Who Thinks a Dog Is One
Now, after Titan obeyed Frank’s command and Graham’s hand closed around the keys, the courtyard held its breath.
Frank did not move his cane away from the padlock.
“Unlock it.”
Graham’s fingers tightened around the key ring.
Vivian stepped forward.
“Frank, this has gotten theatrical.”
Frank did not look at her.
“My daughter is locked in an animal kennel.”
“She is hysterical.”
“She is locked in an animal kennel.”
Graham swallowed.
Titan’s body remained flat on the bricks, eyes on Frank.
Graham snapped his fingers again, quieter this time.
“Titan.”
The dog did not move.
Frank said, “Don’t confuse him.”
“He’s my dog.”
Frank’s eyes shifted to him.
“No. He is a dog you bought.”
That landed harder than Graham expected.
Emily made a small sound behind the bars.
Frank turned back to her.
“Em, can you stand?”
She nodded, then shook her head, then tried.
Her knees gave.
Frank’s jaw tightened.
Vivian said, “She has been in there twenty minutes.”
Emily looked at her through tears.
“Three hours.”
Vivian looked away.
Frank heard enough.
He reached into his vest pocket and pulled out his phone.
Graham stepped forward.
“No.”
Titan’s ears twitched.
Frank did not raise his voice.
“Bleib.”
Titan stayed.
Graham froze.
Frank dialed.
“This is Frank Callahan. I’m at the Whitmore estate on Fox Hollow Lane. My adult daughter is locked in a kennel against her will. She appears injured. Send sheriff’s deputies and EMS.”
Graham lunged for the phone.
Not far.
Not fast enough.
Titan rose halfway with a sharp warning bark—not attacking, but blocking the energy in the space.
Frank snapped, “Platz.”
Titan dropped again.
Graham stopped dead.
Vivian’s glass trembled.
The dispatcher spoke through the phone.
“Sir, are there weapons on scene?”
Frank looked at Graham.
“Only a man who thinks a dog is one.”
The call remained open.
That mattered.
Everything after became recorded.
Graham realized it a second too late.
He forced a laugh.
“This is a domestic misunderstanding.”
Frank looked at the kennel.
“Emily, did you enter that kennel willingly?”
Emily gripped the bars.
“No.”
“Do you want to leave?”
“Yes.”
Frank looked at Graham.
“Key.”
Graham’s mouth tightened.
“Tell the dispatcher I’m cooperating.”
“Key first.”
Vivian whispered, “Graham.”
The name carried fear now.
Not command.
He pulled the key ring from his pocket.
His hand shook.
The keys jingled too loudly.
Frank extended his free hand.
Graham did not hand them to him.
Instead, he moved toward the padlock.
Frank stepped aside just enough, cane between Graham and the kennel bars.
“Slow.”
Graham glared.
“You love this.”
Frank’s voice remained flat.
“I loved nothing about seeing my daughter in a cage.”
The key entered the padlock.
Turned.
The lock opened.
Emily sobbed.
Frank did not yank the door open.
He looked at her.
“Do I open it?”
She nodded.
“Yes.”
He opened the gate.
Emily stumbled forward.
Frank caught her with one arm, cane tucked against his body.
His bad hip nearly buckled under her weight.
He held anyway.
Titan rose.
Frank said, “Bleib.”
The dog stayed.
Emily buried her face in her father’s vest and broke apart.
“I thought you wouldn’t get the message.”
“I got it.”
“I tried to call.”
“I know.”
“He said you wouldn’t come.”
Frank closed his eyes.
May you like
Then looked over her shoulder at Graham.
“He was wrong.”
