Baby found a German Shepherd cemented in a wall — what he did hext left everyone in tears 

Once the adjustments were made, Liam carefully slipped his hand into the enclosure, his small fingers lightly brushing against Hope’s patchy fur. The puppy’s eyes remained closed, but Liam leaned close to the opening, whispering words too soft for anyone else to hear. Olivia and Dr. Martinez watched in silence, neither willing to interrupt whatever communication might be taking place.

After several minutes, Liam withdrew his hand and straightened up, his expression solemn. She’s really tired, he reported, but she says thank you for saving her. Dr. Martinez blinked, startled by the matter-of-fact statement.

Did she tell you anything else? Liam nodded. She said there was a little girl at the bad place sometimes. The girl would sneak in and give the dogs water when no one was looking.

Hope liked the girl. She was kind. The veterinarian and Olivia exchanged surprised glances.

This was new information. Nothing in the police reports had mentioned a child being involved with the fighting operation. A little girl? Olivia asked carefully.

Did Hope tell you what she looked like? Liam’s brow furrowed in concentration. She had dark hair and braids, and she wore a pink coat with a tear in the sleeve. Hope says the girl cried when they hurt the dogs.

Dr. Martinez reached for her phone. I should call Detective Wilson. If there’s a child connected to that operation, he needs to know.

While the veterinarian made her call, Olivia knelt beside Liam, her expression concerned. Honey, these things you know about Luna, about Hope, about the girl, how do you know them? Can you explain it to me? Liam considered the question seriously. It’s like, when I look at them, I can feel what they’re feeling.

And sometimes I see pictures in my head, like memories, except they’re not my memories. And this started with Luna? Olivia prompted gently. Liam shook his head.

No, I could always do it, a little bit. But it was mostly just feelings before, like knowing when you were sad, even when you were smiling, or knowing Grandma was hurt before she called. With Luna, it’s different.

It’s clearer, like she knows how to help me understand what the animals are saying. The simplicity of the explanation was somehow more unsettling than any complex justification would have been. Liam wasn’t creating elaborate fantasies.

He was describing his experience as naturally as another child might describe learning to ride a bike. Before Olivia could ask more questions, Dr. Martinez returned. Her expression troubled.

Detective Wilson is very interested in this information about the girl. Apparently, during questioning, one of the men arrested mentioned his boss had a daughter, though he claimed she was never at the facility. Liam’s information suggests otherwise, Olivia said.

Dr. Martinez nodded. The detective is sending someone over to take a formal statement. If what Hope told Liam is accurate, it could be crucial to the case.

The detective who arrived 30 minutes later was not Wilson himself, but a woman named Detective Sarah Chen, who specialized in cases involving children. Her approach was gentle but direct as she interviewed Liam about what Hope had told him. So, this girl would come to the building sometimes, Detective Chen clarified, taking careful notes, and she would give the dogs water when the men weren’t looking? Liam nodded.

She wanted to help them, but she was scared of her dad. Hope says he hit the girl once when she tried to let one of the dogs out. Detective Chen’s pen paused briefly.

Her dad? The girl’s father was involved with the dog fighting? He was the boss, Liam confirmed, with the casual certainty of someone stating an obvious fact. The other men had to do what he said, or he’d hurt them too. This information aligned with what the police had begun to suspect, that the operation was run by a man named Victor Reyes, who had so far eluded capture.

If the girl was Reyes’ daughter, she might be both a victim and a crucial witness. Did Hope tell you the girl’s name? Detective Chen asked. Liam shook his head.

The men called her Kid or Brat, but she told the dogs her name was Sophie. The detective made a final note, then closed her notebook. Thank you, Liam, this is very helpful information.

She turned to Olivia. Mrs. Carter, we’d like to have a child psychologist speak with Liam, if that’s all right with you. Standard procedure in cases like this.

Cases like what, exactly? Olivia asked, a protective edge to her voice. Detective Chen chose her words carefully. Cases where a child witness provides information that couldn’t have been obtained through conventional means.

We want to ensure we understand the full context of Liam’s insights. What she didn’t say, but what Olivia understood, was that the police wanted to rule out the possibility that Liam had somehow been involved with or exposed to the dogfighting operation prior to the raid. The suggestion was absurd, of course, but procedure was procedure.

Fine, Olivia agreed reluctantly, but I’ll be present for any interviews. Of course, Detective Chen assured her. We’ll arrange it for tomorrow, if that works for you.

After the detective left, Liam asked to spend a few more minutes with Hope before they headed home. The puppy seemed slightly more alert now, her eyes occasionally opening to look at the boy who sat beside her enclosure. She’s fighting harder now, Liam told Dr. Martinez confidently.

She wants to meet the other dogs when she gets better, especially Luna. The veterinarian smiled, touched by his optimism. We’ll make sure she gets that chance.

The next day’s interview with the child psychologist, Dr. Rebecca Winters, went better than Olivia had feared. The woman was kind and non-confrontational, framing her questions as a conversation rather than an interrogation. So, when you’re with Luna or the other dogs, it’s like you can understand what they’re feeling, Dr. Winters asked, after establishing rapport with Liam.

Liam nodded. Not just feeling, thinking too. Dogs think differently than people, more in pictures and smells, but Luna helps me understand.

And Luna is special, different from other dogs you’ve known? Luna understands things better, Liam explained. She knows how to put the pictures in order so they make sense to me, and she remembers more clearly than other dogs. Dr. Winters made a note, her expression thoughtful.

Have you ever met Sophie, the little girl from the building? Liam shook his head firmly. No, I only know what Hope told me about her. And you’re absolutely certain you’ve never been to that building before the night of the raid? Never seen any of those dogs before? Just in the pictures Luna showed me, Liam insisted.

After nearly an hour of gentle questioning, Dr. Winters seemed satisfied. She spoke briefly with Olivia in private, her assessment surprisingly open-minded. Liam is an extraordinarily empathetic child, she concluded…