wasn’t good enough for Steele: dogs like him weren’t meant to be out on the street, period. “I’m going after him,” he growled, turning to follow the pack of strays. “Justice hasn’t been served yet, and I intend to see that it finally happens.”

 Before Ewan could give chase, Orde stepped into his path and stared him down with a severe look. “Don’t be a fool.” He stated slowly and deliberately, his voice ice cold. “You’ll never catch up to him now. This is not the time for retribution.” He pointed his nose at the nameless dog, who seemed to be trying to revive Chase, and Balto, who was anxiously looking between his daughter and his mate, both clearly unable to move. “Need I remind you that a police dog’s duty is to serve and protect? Right now you are needed here.”

 The moment of silence that followed spun out until Ewan slowly nodded; the flame of anger slowly dwindling down to a sense of helplessness by the time he uttered, “Yes Captain.” Orde was right, as usual, but the advice still didn’t make it any easier to get rid of the helpless frustration he felt.

 Orde’s demeanor grew softer. “Justice will come at the right time, Ewan. For now, we have much to do.” He smiled wryly, and after he got a reassured smile back from Ewan he turned. “Comet!” Comet rolled his eyes and stood at attention. “You go find the vet and bring him here, whatever it takes. Just try not to act aggressive and scare the man- you don’t want give him the idea that you’re one of those fanatical strays.”

 To his relief a crowd of people was already gathering, wondering what was going on. Orde nodded, satisfied. “Actually, forget that order. We have company that can handle it.”

 “Where are you going, Captain?” asked Comet.

 Orde had started for the group. “I’m going to get to the bottom of this,” he replied. As he came up to Balto he cleared his throat. “Balto, Jenna, I know this is an inconvenient time, but we will need to ask you a few questions when this is all over.

 Balto looked up from his loved ones and, recognizing the Captain, nodded. There were tears in his eyes as he said, “Just let me get them safe, and I’ll tell you everything I know.” ……………………………………………………………………………………………….

 Sometime later, Terry sat with the police dogs outside the vet’s office. They were waiting for the vet’s pronouncement, which had already been delayed by the amputation of Chase’s leg and various treatments for several other dogs far worse off than Rex. Orde had explained the whole matter to Terry, but anyone could see her mind wasn’t on his account. “This is almost as bad as when Yuke died,” she murmured. “Sitting here not knowing, and knowing that he was injured because of me…”

 Orde shook his head. “He did it for all the dogs in Nome,” he replied kindly. “I have known Rex for a long time, and I can tell you that he is very firm about what he believes in. He eats law, drinks order, and breathes justice. He would have gone into that fight whether you were in danger or not.” After a pause he added, “Then again, he’s also a loyal friend. So chances are he was thinking of you in that fight.”

 Ewan agreed. “Anyway, it’s only a hurt leg,” he added, his tone suggesting that he was dwelling on the much greater severity of the damage to his nieceand sister. “He’s been through worse before.”

 “But what if it can’t be fixed?” Terry questioned. “What if he’s crippled?”

 Orde stared at the door. “He’d probably have to give up tracking,” he replied. “A few weeks ago, I wager something like that would have killed him.”

 “It’s that important?” asked Terry in surprise.

 “It was,” Orde answered slowly.

 “Of course,” added Comet slyly, “That was before he had a friend with some connection other than law enforcement.”

 The door opened, and the vet and chief walked out talking. Orde calmly hooked the door with a paw and held it to allow the others to enter, following behind them. Terry wondered what Comet meant, but decided not to ask at the moment. All that mattered was making sure Rex would be alright. She saw him lifting his head to look at them as they entered. “So?” she asked. “What’s the diagnosis?”

 “Broken,” Rex groused. “Apparently it started out as a hairline fracture from the fight and then snapped when I tried to walk on it. The vet says it will be at least a month, possibly more.” He looked at Orde anxiously. “And the strays,” he inquired. “They are…?”

 “Back at peace,” Orde replied. “Apparently Steele was behind the matter.”

 “Steele?” asked Rex. “Not the same Steele who…”

 Orde nodded. “The same.”

 Ewan sighed, his ears slicking back. “I just wish we could have done something about him. Hitting on Jen was low, but this time…”

 “Do you mean Jenna?” Rex had only met Jenna once, but he knew that she was one of Nome’s leading canine citizens. “Was she hurt?”

 Orde shook his head. “He was attempting to make her fatally ill by having the sick strays crowd around her while she slept,” he explained. “He succeeded in making her sick, but it seems she will recover.”

 “And that’s pretty darn lucky for him…” added Ewan, still steamed.

 “Stay, Ewan,” Rex ordered sharply before returning to the subject at hand. “Is he in custody?”

 “No,” answered Comet. “The strays ran him out of town when they realized he had been using them.”

 Now it was Rex’s turn to growl. “Far be it from me to condone vigilante ‘justice,’ but I hope they finish the job.”

 Captain Orde nodded somberly. “Thank goodness the whole beastly business is done with,” he remarked. “And let’s hope we have peace …at least until you’ve recovered.”

 Rex heartily agreed with that. But he began to worry when the corner of the older dog’s mouth turned upward. “Then again,” the Captain went on as his eyes flicked from Rex to Terry and then back to Rex, “It might give you a little more time for somebody…”

 “Captain…” Rex groaned in a half-pleading, half-warning tone.

 But the damage was done. Terry, who up until now had remained silent, made the connection with Comet’s earlier comment. “I didn’t know you were seeing someone,” she said with her ears pricked. Her tone was hard to decipher. As best Rex could judge, she was either worried that her visits might have been causing this nameless someone to feel jealous, or… or the other possibility, which Rex didn’t want to think about.

 The bloodhound’s ears drooped even more than usual. “I’m not,” he replied. “Although it seems my old friend isn’t going to quit until he’s managed to change that.”

 Orde smiled. “Perhaps it would be best if we let you two talk it over without us around to interfere.” With that said he nodded at his officers and left the room. The other two left as well, but Rex could hear Ewan’s exasperated/amused, “Lay off already, Comet…” as Comet started to hum ‘The Matchmaker Song’ once again. Rex rolled his eyes. ‘I’m going to get Orde for this,’ he thought, not sure whether he really meant it. ‘If it takes me twenty years, I’ll…’

 Terry focused her attention on Rex. “What was he talking about?” she asked.

 Rex felt his face beginning to grow extremely warm. “Well, I suppose I’m not going to have any peace of mind until I tell you. Orde has been suggesting that I…” he paused, trying to think of how to say it. “…pursue a relationship with you.”

 Terry‘s ears went up, but the expression on her face and halfway position of her tail made it hard to tell if this was out of interest or alarm. “’Pursue a relationship?’” she echoed.

 “Yes, I believe he wants me to ask you out,” Rex admitted. “Or court you or something to that effect. He thinks we‘d be good together, I suppose.”

 To his surprise, she started to laugh. “What’s so funny?” he asked.

 “Nothing, really,” Terry admitted. “Only… well, my son Pete thought you and I were together, and all this time Orde was trying to set us up…”

 Despite himself, Rex began to chuckle. “I suppose it is rather amusing,” he agreed.

 Terry stopped laughing and looked at him like someone studying a painting. “So why didn’t you just tell me?” she asked.

 The bloodhound stared at the floor. “Well for one thing, getting involved with a female simply because of having rescued her is not exactly proper behavior, business-wise,” he