Chapter One:Hello Ghost

The sharp, insistent weight of a paw against his chest yanked Luke Callahan out of his sleep.

A second later, a warm, damp nose nudged his jaw, followed by a short, impatient whine.

"Ghost," Luke groaned, scrubbing a hand over his face. "It's too damn early for this."

The Belgian Malinois didn't care. His ears perked, sharp green eyes locked onto Luke's, tail giving a single, determined wag. A moment later, another paw pressed against his ribs, more forceful this time.

"Alright, alright," Luke muttered, rolling onto his side. "I get it. You got a schedule to keep."

He swung his legs over the edge of the bed, stretching as his joints popped. Ghost hopped down effortlessly, padding toward the door before turning back with an expectant stare. The dog knew exactly what came next—morning run, breakfast, then another day on duty.

Luke sighed, rubbing the sleep from his eyes before glancing at the worn leather watch strapped to his wrist.

4:30 AM.

Too damn early was right.

Still, he pushed himself up, his body moving on instinct. Years of military training had burned discipline into his bones, and now, routine was just another part of life. He grabbed a hoodie from the chair, pulled on his running shoes, and followed Ghost out the door.

As he stepped into the crisp morning air, the city still quiet in the predawn darkness, Luke exhaled slowly. Another day. Another shift. Another case waiting to be solved.

And, as always, Ghost was right there beside him.

The pavement was still damp from the night's dew, and the streetlights cast long, yellow halos along the sidewalks. Luke set a steady pace, falling into the rhythm of his breathing as Ghost trotted just ahead of him, always keeping an eye on his partner. The dog's presence was grounding, a silent assurance that, despite the chaos of the world, there was a sense of order here.

Luke's mind started to clear as the run began to wake him fully. His body was sore from yesterday's training, but it felt good in the way only exhaustion after a hard day could. The steady pounding of his feet on the concrete felt like a metronome, the simple act of putting one foot in front of the other almost meditative.

He barely registered the route at first, his focus entirely on the rhythm, the rising sun's orange glow beginning to burn off the mist. But as they hit the first mile marker, Luke's thoughts started to shift.

The case he had been working on had been dragging him down for weeks. The missing person. The dead-end leads. The suspicion that something bigger was at play. His gut told him he was close to something—but what? Ghost's presence at his side always helped him stay grounded, and right now, the dog was sensing it, too.

The Belgian Malinois suddenly slowed, his head snapping up, ears alert.

Luke's own instincts flared to life. He didn't even question it. His hand reached instinctively to the side, fingers brushing the small, comforting weight of his pistol holstered under his hoodie. He knew Ghost, knew when the dog was picking up something unusual.

"Easy, Ghost," Luke muttered, his voice low. "What is it?"

The dog's eyes never left the shadowed alley ahead. Luke followed his gaze, scanning the surroundings with the sharp focus of someone used to reading the world through a soldier's eyes.

Nothing stood out at first. But then, a faint rustle.

Luke's breath hitched, and without a word, he began moving, shifting into a silent, calculated stride. Ghost was already in motion, a blur of muscle and intent as he darted toward the alley, moving like a shadow in the growing light.

Luke followed, his senses heightened, every muscle taut. He didn't know what Ghost had picked up on, but something told him this wasn't just another early morning jog. Something was about to go down.

They reached the alley's mouth, and Luke felt it—the shift in the air. It was different. The calm before the storm.

"Stay close," he muttered under his breath.

As they moved deeper into the shadows, his hand tightened around the grip of his gun. Ghost moved in front, head low, body poised, as though ready to spring into action at any moment.

Luke's pulse quickened. Whatever it was, it was time to find out.

Luke's eyes narrowed as he scanned the alley, every fiber of his being on high alert. Ghost had stopped, his body tense, nose twitching, but he wasn't growling or showing aggression. Instead, the dog's ears were pricked in the direction of a small movement near the trash bins at the far end of the alley.

A flicker of motion.

Luke took a step forward, the gravel crunching under his boots, his hand still gripping his gun, though his instincts hadn't triggered full alert yet. Something was off, but it wasn't the kind of danger he was used to. His gaze flicked over the scene, and just as his brain began to process, a small brown blur darted out from behind the bins.

Luke's eyes widened for a second before a sharp exhale of laughter escaped him. A pair of rabbits, wide-eyed and twitching their noses, bounded across the alley, leaping over scattered garbage bags and into the underbrush.

Ghost's tail wagged once before he sat down, looking almost sheepish, his green eyes meeting Luke's with what almost looked like embarrassment.

Luke let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. "Seriously? You've been on edge over some damn rabbits?"

The dog didn't seem to care. He tilted his head slightly as if saying, You never know.

Luke sighed, holstering his gun and running a hand through his hair. "Alright, well, guess that's one way to start the morning."

The city around them had remained still, peaceful once again, and the tension in Luke's shoulders slowly began to fade. He gave Ghost a gentle nudge with his foot.

"Come on, buddy," Luke said with a grin. "Let's finish this run before anything else decides to make us look like fools."

With that, the two of them turned back, Ghost falling in step with his usual intensity, but the dog's alertness had shifted. The morning's potential threat had evaporated, leaving only the calm of the quiet city streets ahead of them.

And, just for a moment, Luke allowed himself to relax into the rhythm of the run, the soft padding of Ghost's paws on the pavement a steady reminder that, in this moment, everything was right where it needed to be.

As they made their way back to the apartment, the early morning stillness seemed to hang in the air, the world slowly waking up as Luke jogged beside Ghost, the dog's pace now more leisurely. By the time they reached the front door, the first rays of sunlight were beginning to filter through the sky, casting a warm golden hue over the streets.

Luke let out a contented sigh as he stepped inside, locking the door behind him. The soft click of the door closing was comforting, and Ghost padded over to his usual spot by the couch, flopping down with a low sigh of his own.

"Alright, buddy," Luke muttered, heading toward the small kitchen. "Breakfast time."

He shed his hoodie and shoes, his body still warm from the run. His muscles ached, but in a way that felt like it was doing him good. It wasn't the first time he'd had an early start, and it definitely wouldn't be the last. Grabbing a quick shower was the first order of business.

The hot water hit him like a wave of comfort. Luke closed his eyes as the steam enveloped him, letting the pressure of the morning drain away. He took his time, the quiet solitude of the bathroom a brief respite before the chaos of the day ahead. The water pounded against his back, and for a moment, he simply stood there, focusing on the small pleasures of normal life.

But the sound of Ghost's impatient whine echoed through the door, reminding him that the day was moving forward.

"Yeah, I know, I know," Luke grumbled, quickly rinsing off before stepping out of the shower, the towel slung over his shoulder.

Once dressed in a comfortable t-shirt and jeans, he moved toward the kitchen to start breakfast. Ghost sat at his feet, eyes shining with anticipation.

"You're lucky you're cute, buddy," Luke muttered, pulling out ingredients. He cracked eggs into a bowl, adding a bit of salt and pepper before whisking them together. There were oats simmering on the stove for Ghost, with a little extra protein mixed in, while Luke opted for a simple, hearty scramble with toast.

The smell of sizzling eggs and the sound of the pan sizzling filled the small apartment, a welcomed warmth. The sun was now fully up, spilling light through the windows, and as the food finished cooking, Luke placed Ghost's bowl on the floor before sitting down to enjoy his own meal.

"You ready for today?" Luke asked, giving the dog a scratch behind the ears. Ghost gave a soft woof in response, always eager for whatever the day would bring, whether it was another training session or a shift alongside Luke.

Luke dug into his breakfast, his thoughts already shifting back to the case he had been working on. The missing person. The silence had been too thick in recent days, like a storm waiting to hit. But today, maybe, would be different. Maybe today he'd catch the break he was looking for.

"Guess we'll see, huh?" he murmured, sipping his coffee as he glanced at the clock.

Time was slipping away. He had just enough before he had to gear up for his shift, a day full of potential and uncertainty.

Luke finished his breakfast, wiped his mouth with a napkin, and stood up, heading toward the small hallway where his gear was stored. Ghost followed him closely, ready as ever.

After a few minutes, Luke was dressed in his usual attire for the job—black tactical gear, bulletproof vest, and his sidearm secured at his hip. Ghost sat at attention, ready to go, his harness snugly fastened.

"Let's do this, Ghost," Luke said, grabbing his keys and sliding them into his pocket. "Another day, another case."

And with that, they headed out the door, ready to face whatever the shift had in store for them.