Breach of Security

“Just sign here” his mustache moved like a cartoon character as he spoke. Just sign there? That’s it? I scribbled my signature onto the paper. Odette Bennett. Mr. Burns struck me as a serious man, but his mustache felt comical. I couldn’t stop staring at it as he spoke; it was nearly a distraction from the explanation of my actual job. I had applied online for a security job because the pay seemed outrageously good- too good to be true. It was too good to be true. It wasn’t a normal security job, but I didn’t know that until I had gotten here and it became apparently clear through the new hire process that this would be much different than originally stated. I had expected a desk job, maybe some laps around the property… Nope. Suddenly I was listening to a middle aged man explain how this security company was different- I’d have the chance to become something of a bounty hunter? He was super unclear about the details. This was more like a private contracting company than a security job… ‘K-9’ caught my attention. “Excuse me- dog?” I asked in confusion He nodded. “To help you.” I wasn’t a dog person. I wanted to shake my head- but the money was too good. “After you finish on site training, your dog will arrive. Listen closely when I say that dog is never to leave your side. On your week off, that dog goes with you. Your two weeks on, he’s right by your side. You got that? Everywhere you go, the dog also goes. That dog be registered as a service animal- not medical service- but that doesn’t matter.” He explains with a grunt. “You do nothing without that dog, do you understand me Ms. Odette?” My brow furrowed as I nodded. Why the hell did it matter? It was just a damn dog. His rambles went on, and I glanced out of the window towards the dirt lot. The forest beyond was calm and still. “What kind of dog?” I interrupted him with a grimace. Mr. Burns paused for a moment. “A shepherd,I believe.” This answer didn’t make things any better. Those things shed. Of course it would be a hairy dog. I listened to instructions about check-ins, rules, stuff about cameras and this system until my ears felt like bleeding. A knock on the door saved me from a migraine. An attractive man in his mid-twenties dipped inside without being called in. A blonde Shepard followed at his heels, her big brown eyes never leaving him as he shut the door behind them. His hand extended towards me, offering me a handshake as he told me his name was Jonathan McCoy. I of course told him my name in turn. Mr. Burns face registered as sour to me as I shook Jonathan’s hand. “And this is Hannah.” Jonathan said, stepping aside to show off the dog proudly. “She’s my k-9 partner. Our canine teammates are extremely important to us- I’m sure Jeb went over that though.” “Thoroughly,” I replied with a smile. “Hannah is only three. She’s still a pup, but extremely intelligent and alert. She’s made a great partner.” Jonathan’s pride seemed to swell as he looked at his blonde companion. “Jeb, I’m going to take her out on a run now.” Jonathan said as he made for the door. “First watch is always the toughest, go easy Johnny.” Mr. Burns replied tiredly. I stood and followed Jonathan without looking back, and nearly tripped on Hannah. Hannah’s ears lowered, as if I had offended or hurt her, but she made no sound as she quickened her pace to be at Jonathan’s side. “You’ll have a truck and rifle before you’ll have a partner- I’m sure Mr. Burns told you that.” Jonathan explained as we approached a black pickup. He lowered the bed gate, and opened an expensive looking metal crate. “Did he tell you why?” He asked cautiously, snapping his fingers. At the snap of his fingers, Hannah launched herself up onto the trucks bed. She quietly went into the crate, circling herself around to sit down on the little padded floor as he closed the door. “No-“ I replied, slightly in awe of the way she’d just known to get into the truck. “Do they all do that?” “What-oh, the load command? Our K-9 teammates are extremely well-trained. Some snaps, whistles, commands-all kinds of cool tricks! Best part is, you spend a trial period training with your partner to know them better.” Jonathan seemed almost giddy as he talked. “They’re trained to save your life, Odette.” I rolled my eyes. “That seems dramatic.” “Does the rifle or schedule register as dramatic?” Jonathan’s face became serious. It hardened like stone as he spoke again. “Odette, this isn’t like any other job you’ll ever have.” I stilled, crossing my arms. “Well, guess you better show me the ropes then.” Jonathan began explaining the quick release. A remote that looked like a key fob for a car hung from his key chain next to the truck key fob. The black button dropped the tailgate. The green button snapped open the door for Hannah’s crate. Hannah stood silently at the ready. Her pointed face stared at Jonathan. The red button snapped the crate door closed once more. Jonathan pushed the black button again, and the tailgate rose up to close again. Once we were in the truck, I noticed the rifle rack on the back window. A pistol holster hung from the glove box, but it was empty. Jonathan quickly filled it with the pistol that had been holstered at his waist. His key turned and the truck roared to life without hesitation. He explained that I should be careful with the quick closing on the crate, so as not to shut it on my partner. “Wildlife doesn’t usually take the chance with your partner around. Wolves might, but that’s what you have the rifle for. Be sure to use the rifle quickly-your partner will fight to the death for you, and you don’t want to accidentally hit them anyway.” Jonathan explained carefully. “Let me ask you this- why would this dog that I don’t know give me the loyalty of their life?” I inquired. “That's what they’re bred, raised, and trained to do.” Jonathan replied with a smirk. “Not to mention that you spend an insane amount of time building up that bond.” I sat there in silence, rolling this thought over in my head like an ocean smoothing out the edges of a stone. Maybe this was a good idea; getting a reliable friend. I live alone now. That’s why this job made sense for me. I wasn’t close to my parents anyway. My mother drank too much, and my father worked too much. My mother would spend her days drinking, and depending on her drink of choice that day, decided the mood for the night. Long, sleepless nights hearing my mother's heartbroken sobs, or her rampage as she screamed at my father and broke things. My father, on the other hand, had checked out long ago. He hardly acknowledged me, or my mother for that matter. They never told me why this separation began, and I never cared to ask too far into it. Questions about that topic only upset my mother further. Now, with both of them gone, I knew I could start my new life here. I could belong here. I shivered.