The warm Miami sunshine felt refreshing as Horatio and Kojak strolled through the park. Ducks happily paddled around the pond. A couple of old men sat at a picnic table playing chess. A group of children squealed with delight as they chased each other on the soft grass. Horatio smiled as he watched them.

Kojak was enjoying the park too, with ears pricked forward and noses sniffing the air. There where so many things that he wanted to investigate and he strained against the invisible lead that kept him close to Horatio.

Suddenly a small group of screaming children came rushing up from behind. "Hey mister! Can we pet your dog?" Kojak started at the sudden rush and backed up into Horatio's legs. Horatio quickly knelt down and put a firm hand on the Shepherd's shoulders.

"Yes you can," replied Horatio. "But you have to be calm and gentle. Okay?" The kids nodded and began to stroke the dog's head. Kojak timidly licked at their fingers as Horatio firmly held him in the sit position.

"He's a cute dog," said a little girl. "Does he do any tricks?"

"Yeah, can he play fetch?" A boy picked up a stick and threw it onto the grass.

Horatio gave the dogs shoulder a soft slap and whispered, "Go get it." Kojak turned and gave Horatio a bored look as if to say, "oh please…" before trotting off to retrieve the stick. Horatio chuckled. Perhaps Kojak was a little old to be play fetch.

After Kojak had fetched the stick a couple of times, the children ran off in search of some new adventure. So Horatio and Kojak wandered down towards the pond. "Care to go for a swim Kojak?" Kojak stared up at him, unsure of what he was asking. "Go on." Horatio motioned towards the water.

That, apparently, was the right command. Kojak bounded into the murky pond with a huge splash. Startled ducks immediately streaked across the water to the far shore and Kojak joyously gave chase. Horatio laughed as he settled himself on a bench to watch the Shepherd as he darted up and down the edge of the pond in pursuit of ducks.

He is such a great dog, thought Horatio. Surly he could find a good home for this wonderful animal. How does a police dog end up with a man like Walt? There is one person that might know. Horatio pulled out the copy of Kojak's file and his cell phone from his jacket pocket.

"Hello?"

"Hi there, is this Sergeant Marcus Cartwright?"

"It certainly is."

"This is Lt. Horatio Caine, I'm with the Miami crime lab."

"What can I do for you Lieutenant?"

"Do you own a dog by the name of Kojak?"

"I used too, but I haven't owned him for, oh I don't know, five years or so. Why?"

"We found him at murder scene and I was wondering how he may have ended up there."

"A murder scene? You gotta be kidding me."

"I'm afraid not Sergeant."

"Well…I'll tell you as much as I know, which isn't much. I'm with the K-9 unit and I was given Kojak to train as my partner. I had been training him for two years when the vet found that he had developed early arthritis in his knee. He was immediately retired from the unit. He was adopted out to a family soon after."

"You didn't keep him?"

"Lieutenant Caine, I already own two of my now retired dogs, plus my current partner. As much as I'd like to keep all the dogs that come through my home, I just can't. Kojak is not the first dog the department has had to adopt out. Some dogs just don't make it through training and Kojak was one."

"What was he being trained for?"

"Search and rescue mostly."

"And you say you gave him to a family?"

"Yeah. Why? Was it someone else you found him with?"

"Yes, a single man."

"Well I can't explain that. The family probably had to give him up. Shame. It's not good for dogs to be bounced around like that. They really need a home."

"Yes they do." Horatio thanked the Sergeant and snapped his phone shut.

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"What do you mean he's not here? Where is he?" The receptionist shrugged apologetically has Rick Stetler snapped at her.

"I'm sorry sir, but I don't know where he is. You could try calling him on his cell."

Stetler turned away with disgust. As if he hadn't already tried to call him, it always went straight to voice mail. Caine knows he's here and has decided to hide. Just goes to prove the he's got something worth hiding.

The elevator doors opened and Stetler turned to see Horatio step out, follow by a muddy German Shepherd and the smell of wet dog.

"Agent Stetler," Horatio announced flatly. "Nice to see you again."

Stetler looked at the dog and wrinkled his nose. "I see the rumors about the dog are true."

Horatio turned his shoulder to Stetler and looked down at Kojak. "That depends on what they are saying about him."

"Caine, by booking this animal in as evidence you are compromising the creditability of this lab and that is something that…"

"I'm not booking him as evidence," Horatio cut in.

The comment hit Stetler right in the middle of his stride and he was momentarily stunned. "You're not?"

"Nope." Horatio fingered his sunglasses as he looked up at Steltler. "I'm listing him as a witness."

Horatio was satisfied to see that Stetler was speechless. "But... you…Horatio have you lost your mind! It's a dog! It can't be a witness!"

"Actually Rick, Kojak is a trained police dog and he may be able to help us ID the killer."

"A police dog?" Stetler asked incredulously. "Where's his handler?"

"He doesn't have one. He's retired from the force. He current owner was the murder victim."

For a moment Horatio thought that Stetler's head might explode. "A retired mutt as a material murder witness. Horatio you have gone to far this time. I'm calling Animal Control right now and…"

"You know what Rick," hissed Horatio. "If you don't like it, talk to the D.A. But right now this mutt is staying right here. Come Kojak." Horatio headed purposely towards his office with Kojak following at his heels, leaving a seething Rick Stetler to stock to the over to the elevator.