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One man and his dog?

"Oh my Lord." Jane looked around the blood soaked room, horrified by the extent of violence that had caused the death of the young man the coronors' office were currently transporting.

"From the trajectory." Maura pulled off her violet latex gloves. "I'd say an artery was hit. Possibly the jugular. But until the autopsy."

"I know." Jane frowned as she heard a pitiful yelp from beneath an upturned duvet. Maura tilted her head to the side as Korsak frowned.

"A baby?" Jane shook her head at Maura as Korsak approached the noise. Very gently he pulled back the duvet to reveal one very small, very frightened puppy.

"A puppy." He smiled as he picked the small dog up. "Too young to be from the mother yet."

"Aw." Jane watched as he cooed over the small black dog. "What is he?"

"A Staffordshire bull terrier I think. Or at least mom was. He certainly has Staffy in him." Maura pulled a face. "Don't you look like that, Dr Iles. He's a baby, and he's probably been taken from his mum to be used as a fighting dog or bait dog."

"Bait?" Jane swallowed hard. "As in what I am thinking? Some perverted scum would use this baby as bait?"

"Yes." Korsak sighed. "Small, unable to fight back. Some dogs like Jack Russell, Yorkshire Terrier, even the Bichon Frise are stolen for that very purpose. I think I'm gonna get this little guy checked by the veterinarian."

"You know they'll put him in the pound?" Maura raised an eyebrow.

"No they won't." Korsak stated. "I'll take him, hand rear him if necessary. At least until we find his real owner."

Jane nodded as he carried the puppy out of the crime scene. Maura pulled a face.

"You know? Staffy dogs were once known as the nanny dog. It's not what you are. It's how you're raised." She held her best friend's gaze. "True for all animals I'd say." Maura nodded as she watched her friend walk away.

Xxxxx

Korsak stared at the helpless black puppy as the women in the blue scrubs listened to the puppy's chest.

"He has a strong heart beat and his lungs are clear." She smiled.

"How old is he?" Korsak asked as she lifted him up.

"Dogs should not be removed from their mothers until at least eight weeks." She shook her head sadly. "I'd say this little boy is no older than five."

"Sons of a.."

"Exactly. Look I usually work with police dogs, horses etc," She watched as he nodded. "I think this little guy needs lots of love, to be fed every three hours. I want to see him daily. He's healthy just small."

"I just wish he could talk."

"Excuse me?"

"Spike here is possibly the only witness to a murder." Korsak shook his head.

The vet handed him the puppy. "I'd say he's found his forever home, wouldn't you?"

"Legally? Can I?"

"Yes." The middle aged woman smiled. "His last known owner is a criminal, a man is dead and if you don't take him the state will probably want me to euthanise." Korsak covered the puppy's ears. "So, as a police vet shall I draw up the paperwork?" She smiled as Korsak nodded.

"Hey Spike, you're safe now." Korsak whispered. "No one is gonna hurt you again."

Xxxxxxx

"Illegal dog fighting." Jane pulled a face as she clicked through the computer. "Can humans really be this cruel?"

"Oh they could be."

"Defenseless little dogs?" She thought of her own companion waiting at home with her mother.

"It's big business." Frost folded his arms.

"Apparently big enough to kill for."

Xxxxxxxx

A/n should I go on? Please review