Then the dog slammed the chain against the concrete again, and the whole shelter answered with terrified barking.
Anya moved closer to Brenda.
“If we sedate him in this state, we may kill him,” she said.
Brenda closed her eyes for one second.
A shelter director learns to make decisions that leave bruises no one can see.
When she opened them, she looked at Samuel.
“If I let you in, Kevin stays at the door.”
Samuel nodded.
“If he moves wrong, Kevin fires.”
Samuel nodded again.
He handed his gloves to Maya.
Her fingers shook when she took them.
The hallway seemed longer when he started down it.
Kevin followed with the rifle.
Anya followed Kevin.
Brenda came last, hating every step and taking it anyway.
At the quarantine door, Samuel lifted one hand to stop them.
He did not let Kevin swing the door all the way open.
