Chapter 10
Bruno became famous inside the family.
Annoying.
Everyone called him “the investigator.”
I hated it.
He slept through most dinners.
Investigator indeed.
But the story changed how people saw him.
Before, old dog.
After, guardian.
I corrected that too.
“He bit one man.”
Rafe disagreed.
“He identified a conspiracy.”
I stared at him.
Bruno snored.
Perfect.
Then something unexpected happened.
Malcolm asked to see the dog.
I almost refused.
Then considered.
Why?
“To apologize.”
“To Bruno?”
“Yes.”
Ridiculous.
I allowed it in the garden.
Malcolm stood ten feet away.
Bruno looked at him.
No growl.
Interesting.
Malcolm crouched.
“I kicked at you.”
Bruno yawned.
Good.
Then Malcolm said:
“My father had a dog.”
Of course this became emotional.
Thomas Crane apparently taught Malcolm that dogs remembered character.
Malcolm had spent years believing Sterling betrayal defined his father.
Now an old dog had interrupted him before he repeated the same kind of control.
Maybe symbolism.
Maybe coincidence.
Didn’t matter.
Malcolm did not touch Bruno.
Good.
He left.
May you like
No reconciliation.
Just one man realizing he had become closer to the thing he resented than he wanted to admit.
