Just as Lukas was about to give up, Officer Jones appeared. He was familiar—a brother of one of Lukas’ classmates—and had seen Lukas at school before. “Tell me everything,” Jones said quietly, reading the desperation in Lukas’ eyes.
Lukas recounted the entire strange ritual, the barking, and the pack. He even told Jones about the missing dog poster and how no one had believed him. Jones listened, his expression shifting from confusion to concern.