The collar tags had an address. Nice neighborhood that had seen better days. The kind where people were hanging on but barely. I knocked on the door at dinner time, figuring someone would be home.
A man answered. Tired-looking. Dirty work clothes. Suspicious eyes.
“You missing a dog?”
His face went white. “You found Daisy? Is she…did you…”
“She’s alive.”
He sagged against the doorframe. “I couldn’t do it. Couldn’t put her down. But I couldn’t watch her suffer either. I’m not a bad person. I just… I work two jobs and it’s still not enough. My wife died last year. Medical bills. I’m drowning. And now Daisy… Madison doesn’t know. Thinks Daisy ran away. It’s killing her but better than knowing I abandoned—”
“DADDY!” A little voice from inside. “Who is it?”
Madison appeared. Seven years old. Blonde pigtails. Missing front teeth. She saw my leather vest and her eyes went wide.
“Are you a biker?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Her father started crying. “Madison, honey…”
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