The book I am close to finishing is terrific. It’s called “Suspect” and is written by one of my favorite writers, Robert Crais. The two main characters are an LAPD K-9 officer and his dog, Maggie. The title refers to both of them being considered suspect by the LAPD. Both were shot and considered close to death and both are gun shy. Maggie was a Marine dog whose handler was killed by a suicide bomber in Afghanistan. He was killed and she barely survived, with significant injuries. The Marines who survived said she covered his body with hers and wouldn’t let even us get close to him. That was the way she was trained and her master was everything to her. He was all she had, her pack.

The cop is named Scott. He has been reassigned to K-9 at his request. He was on a fast track in the Metro division, the route to SWAT and then high office. He was shot three times and is close to death after a robbery gone bad. The head of the unit, a hardass named Leland, considers both of them suspect. Maggie responds poorly to loud noises and Leland says she has to go. He says dogs suffer PTSD the same as people and she has it. We can’t have a dog who freaks when there’s a loud noise. He thinks the same of Scott.

Scott says I want this dog. Leland says OK, you have two weeks.