Chapter 3 - The Ghost of the Service
Noah took Claire to the only place he knew would be safe: the rehabilitation facility where he trained service dogs for combat veterans. It was a sprawling, industrial space, protected by high fences and a legacy of quiet, disciplined lives.
"They won’t follow us here," Noah promised, locking the steel reinforced gate behind them. Mariana, his assistant, stood at the front desk, her eyes widening at the sight of the blood on Noah’s sleeve. "Senior Chief?" "Lock down the perimeter, Mariana. And call Ortiz. We have a breach."
Samuel Ortiz, a former MP and one of the few men Noah trusted, met them in the back office. The room was lined with photos of dogs—Ranger’s ancestors—and the solemn faces of men and women who had found peace through the training. Ortiz scanned the drive Claire had brought, his jaw tightening as the data loaded.
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"This isn't just hospital records, Noah," Ortiz said, his voice dropping to a whisper. "This is a blueprint for a nationwide extortion scheme. They have people in the police, the hospitals, the city council. We didn't just stumble onto a mugging. We walked into a hornet's nest."
Noah looked at Ranger, who was pacing the perimeter of the room, tail low. The dog knew the danger. They were being hunted by people who could turn the law against them. For the first time in years, the "quiet man" felt the itch of a war he thought he’d left behind.
