Unexpected Team Member

The van door slides open and shut again in a flash. Bates is about to throw it into gear when his ears perk up. A tiny yap. He peeks in the rearview mirror.

"What was that?"

"Our package. Now let's go." Hank's voice shakes like he's struggling.

Bates whips around. It takes three seconds for the sight before him to fully register. Hank has his arms wrapped around a giant Doberman, trying to clamp its muzzle.

A dog? A dog.

Bates can practically feel the gears in his brain almost grind to a halt. "What- how did- where- what am I looking at? Did you just decide to adopt a dog on your way out?"

"Would you shut up and drive already? There was a guard dog okay?"

"That...doesn't clarify anything. Why is it in the van?"

"I dropped the necklace, and he swallowed it, okay?!?" Hank's outburst causes him to nearly lose his grip on the dog who almost jostles his way toward Bates.

Bates wants to scream, yell, anything, but there's still so much white noise in his head. The brief thought of a new plan comes and goes just like that as sirens blare behind them.

"Drive!"