CHAPTER 10 

After the crash, Ethan finally met the FBI agent assigned to Jack Mercer’s case.

Her name was Sarah Collins.

She listened.

Reviewed the hard drive.

And confirmed everything.

Richard Vale had been involved.

But there was another name.

Jack’s own supervisor.

A man Ethan had trusted.

The betrayal went deeper than they thought.

Before Sarah could make the arrests, someone leaked their location.

Richard’s men attacked.

This time, Ethan had nowhere to run.

He stayed.

He protected Lily.

Scout stayed beside him.

For the first time, Ethan understood what Jack had meant.

Some people don’t run because they’re not afraid.

They stay because someone else needs them.

The confrontation ended at Ethan’s garage.

Fire spread across the building.

Richard escaped.

But the evidence survived.

Scout had dragged the hard drive outside before the fire reached it.

Ethan stared at the dog.

“You really don’t quit, do you?”

Scout wagged his tail.

A week later, the FBI arrested Richard Vale.

The truth about Jack Mercer was finally exposed.

But one mystery remained.

Why had Scout chosen Ethan?

Ethan eventually learned the answer.

Jack’s last instruction had been stored inside the collar.

The full message read:

If Scout chooses someone, trust the dog.

Ethan smiled.

“Apparently, he had better judgment than me.”