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Eva Kendall slowed her pace as she approached the single-story building housing the s Lifting her face to the sky, she basked in the sun war her skin June in the Forest Hills area of Queens, New York, could be incredibly hot and humid, but today was the perfect summer day

Using her key, she entered the training center, thinking about the male chocolate Lab na Cocoa was a ten-week-old puppy born to Stella, as a gift from the Czech Republic to the NYC K-9 Co trained as police dogs, but not Cocoa In less than a o ho to becos like Cocoa would return to the center to train with their neners

A few steps into the building, Eva frowned at the loud thu The raucous noise from the various canines contained a level of panic and fear rather than excitement

Concerned, shecenter to the back hallhere the kennels were located Nor, but ot an early start

“Hello? Ki the corner, she paused in the doorhen she saw a tall, heavyset stranger scooping Cocoa out of his kennel, a tire iron lying on the floor beside it Panic squeezed her chest “Hey! What are you doing?”

The ferocious barking increased in voluer hly tucked Cocoa under his arm like a football

“No! Stop!” Panicked, Eva charged toward theshe had a weapon of some sort

“Get out of uttural voice

“No Put that puppy down right now!” Eva stopped and stood her ground, atteh the doorway

“Last chance,” he taunted, co closer