A murmur rippled through the courtroom. Leonard shifted uncomfortably in his seat, his previous composure unraveling. His lawyer leaned over, whispering furiously in his ear, but Leonard seemed frozen, his focus fixed on the dog that had just exposed him.

“Isla,” Judge Dawson’s voice was calming, drawing the child’s attention back. “Did this happen often?”

Isla nodded, her fingers tangling in Moose’s fur. “Yes, but then one day, the door was left open. Moose helped me find the way out. We ran and ran until we found the bus station.”