Dog won’t stop barking at teacher — his instinct uncovers a chilling secret…

Third grade. Top student. Divorced mom.

No father in the picture. Sound familiar? Kane closed his eyes briefly. Yeah, it sounds like Lucy all over again.

We stopped her just in time. But what about Ms. Dana? Moran exhaled. Still nothing.

But I’ve got feds working on it now. The moment we get a whisper, you and Ranger are our first call. That- night, Kane parked the cruiser outside a gas station and let Ranger stretch his legs.

The town was quiet. A spring breeze stirred the leaves. Somewhere, a train rumbled in the distance.

Kane leaned on the hood of the car and looked up at the sky. You? Think we’ll find her? He asked Ranger. The dog tilted his head.

Ms. Dana. The ghost behind it all. Ranger didn’t answer of course but he stood tall, alert.

Like he was ready to keep going. No matter how long it took. Back at home Kane fed Ranger and flipped on the news.

A segment ran about the growing ring of fake educators being investigated. Lucy’s story was mentioned briefly. Her name changed for privacy but Kane knew it was her.

He reached into the drawer and pulled out a photo. One from Ranger’s early days. Sitting proud in his vest.

Mouth open in a panting grin. You’ve- stopped more than bullets, Kane said quietly. You’ve stopped monsters.

His phone buzzed. It was Moran again. They had just intercepted a call.

A woman. Southern drawl. Older voice.

Cold. Was recorded saying. Get rid of everything.

We’ve been sniffed out. That damn dog. Ms. Dana wasn’t gone.

She was running and- Now she knew about Ranger. The audio clip was only eight seconds long. But it hit Officer Kane like a freight train.

Get rid of everything. We’ve been sniffed out. That damn dog.

She said it with a thick southern drawl. Too polished to be uneducated. Too sharp to be underestimated.

Cold. Calculated. And furious.

Kane. Played it three times on the drive back from the station. His fingers tightening around the steering wheel each time.

Ranger sat in the back seat. Quiet but watching his handler through the rearview mirror. They know you now.

Kane muttered. You’re not just sniffing around anymore. You’re in her nightmares.

He tapped the screen to replay the clip. One more time. Ranger’s ears perked up…