The sergeant pulled hard on the leash.
“RANGER. HEEL!”
The military working dog refused to move.
For the first time in four years, Sergeant Caleb Rhodes felt embarrassed by the animal beside him.
Ranger planted all four paws on the concrete and stared toward a maintenance building.
“Come on.”
Nothing.
Behind Caleb, Lieutenant Ford checked his watch.
“We’re already late.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Control your dog.”
Caleb tightened the leash.
Ranger growled softly.
Caleb froze.
Ranger almost never growled.
Not at Caleb.
Not without reason.
They were conducting a routine security sweep before a visiting delegation arrived.
Every building on the route had already been checked by personnel.
Ranger’s job was an additional precaution.
The maintenance building had been cleared twenty minutes earlier.
Still, the dog refused to pass it.
Ford sighed.
“Move him.”
Caleb crouched.
“Ranger.”
The dog’s ears remained forward.
His nose lifted.
Then he pulled toward the door.
Ford shook his head.
