It's immediately clear I'm being followed. I worry at first it's Poppy, as she'd escaped and come after Beckett and I the night before. But when I carefully check behind me to catch a glimpse of my pursuer, I'm surprised.

The dog. He pads along from hiding place to hiding place, though he doesn't seem to want to hide from me. His tail wags once as our eyes meet, but he keeps his distance.

A companion, no matter the species, is welcome right now.

The sun shines ...