The dog pressed his forehead against the girl's chest and closed his eyes.
Like he had finally found someone he'd been searching for.
Holden walked forward slowly.
"Sweetheart..."
The girl immediately pulled Phantom closer.
Her eyes filled with panic.
"Don't take him."
Her voice barely rose above a whisper.
"They always take everyone away."
Holden stopped.
"What is your name?"
The child hesitated.
Then answered.
"Anna."
"How old are you?"
"I think..."
She counted on her fingers.
"Seven."
"You think?"
She nodded.
"I stopped having birthdays."
Silence settled over the courtyard again.
Holden looked closer.
Her oversized coat was soaked.
Her hands were blue from the cold.
She was painfully thin.
Much thinner than any healthy child should be.
"When did you last eat?"
Anna looked confused.
"I found half a sandwich yesterday."
One of the guards quietly turned away.
Another removed his jacket.
Holden felt something tighten painfully inside his chest.
He crouched several feet away.
"So how do you know Phantom?"
Anna looked at the dog.
"I don't."
"But..."
She gently touched the leather collar.
"I know Roman."
Holden's pulse quickened.
"What do you mean?"
She swallowed.
"My daddy had a dog."
"He looked exactly like this."
"He was called Roman."
Holden stared.
Impossible.
Phantom had been bred in Italy.
Imported directly.
He had all the paperwork.
Every vaccination.
Every ownership record.
Everything.
Unless...
Someone had lied.
Anna reached into her oversized coat.
Instantly, six guards raised their weapons.
Holden lifted one hand.
"Wait."
The little girl slowly removed...
A faded photograph.
Corners torn.
Water damaged.
She held it toward Holden.
"This is my daddy."
Holden took it.
His face lost every trace of color.
The photograph showed a younger man...
Standing beside an enormous black Cane Corso.