Author: owner
Company: Hewlett-Packard

Growther

1

	Charlie stares out his window as he drives through the mountain. The last couple of weeks have been interesting to say at the least. It wasn’t too long ago he and Steele were in Canada gathering data and having fun until the Alaskan malamute had the close call, and when Nick returned from his trip, they had no choice but to tell him what they were doing. The German shepherd shakes his head. His partner has put up with a lot of their shit, and he has yet to turn his back on them. Keeping promises has never been his strong point, but he’ll be sure to do whatever Nick asks him without giving him any lip.
	The Voreaphile Task Force agent turns down the volume, drinks some coffee and sighs. The cases they’ve been working on takes up most of his time, and when he does have a moment to himself, he’s either with Sasha or going over plans with his partners. Things between him and the Irish settler are going rather smooth, a lot better than what he thought they would. She has no problem with his sexual relationship with Nick, she understands when dates fall apart because of his work, and she likes being around his roommates. The idea of asking her to move in has come up, but he chickens out whenever he has the chance. Plus there’s somebody else on his mind: Robert.
	Charlie clenches his steering wheel and relaxes his grip. He has no idea how the red fox will take the news. He knows firsthand how unpredictable his former suspect can be. The German shepherd takes a deep breath. He could die today and his partners wouldn’t know where to find his things. Charlie makes sure his cell phone is off, and shoves it into a compartment. The last thing he wants is his roommates to have the same fate as him.
	He pulls into a driveway and climbs out of his car. Things still look the same. Charlie inhales the air. One of these days he’ll take his roommates out camping. Maybe next year. The German shepherd notices the doors on the trailer are shut, and Robert’s car in the driveway. That means the red fox is out doing his thing, or he’s in the shed. He sees a light on in the shed, which means Robert’s present. Odd the canine hasn’t’ come out and greet him yet. Calming his emotions, Charlie knocks on the door and fixes his shirt. Moments later it flies open.
	“Mr. Charlie Barkin, what an unexpected surprise,” Robert said, hugging and kissing the agent. “Do come in.”
	“Thanks. I see things haven’t changed much around here.”
	“Not one for chance unless it’s work related. How was the trip of yours?”
	“That’s why I’m here. Something came close of happening to my partner that was an eye opener.”
	“Odd you say that considering your career, but do tell me.”
	“After what happened, I came to say I won’t be joining you anymore. You change your views on things when it happens to you, or a friend of yours,” Charlie said, looking at Robert. “Plus there’s my career. I can’t keep doing what I’ve been doing when it’s my job to catch people like that.”
	“It’s completely understandable,” Robert thinks about what Charlie said and nods. “Completely understandable, and after hearing what you said, I’ll stop as well, but I can’t quit doing this. It’s my job.”
	“That’s fine. We have a doctor doing the same thing,” the German shepherd said. “Where do things go from here?”
	“If that’s hinting at me in anyway, no worries. As I said, and as you proved, I can’t, and won’t, kill you. You can leave now and I won’t do anything.”
	“That’s a relief.”
	“I’m certain,” Robert said, handing Charlie some papers. “Some addresses Nick may find useful, and I’m sure I’ll get more, which I’ll send to you.”
	“I guess this means you’ll help us?”
	“If this doesn’t prove things, then I’m afraid nothing will, Charles.”
	“You want anything in return?”
	“Not turning me in is payment enough, thanks, and so you know, there’s another growth potion in the makings.”
	“I’ve already tried that.”
	“No, nothing like that. This stuff will cause you to grow an additional five to six feet,” the red fox said, handing the German shepherd a bottle. “Or it’s what they claim, and it already has a fitting name. Growther.”
	“You haven’t tested it yet?”
	“Oh I have, and it works. If you look around my property, you may find several large footprints. When you try it, let me know how tall you become. I’ll also be sure to send you more.”
	“I will, thanks, and be sure to have me pick it up at the post office. I’m already hiding too much from my partners.”
	“That won’t be a problem.”
	“Unless there’s more, I’ll be going. I don’t want to be late for dinner.”
	“There is one more thing I’ve been wanting to do, but it has nothing to do with what we’ve been discussing,” Robert said, pinning Charlie against a wall and unfastens his belt. “This shouldn’t cause you to be too late.”
	Charlie drives down the dirt road twenty minutes later and shakes his head. He had no interest in receiving oral, but there was nothing he could’ve done to stop Robert. At least he knows he can return whenever he wants and not worry about becoming a memory. The German Shepherd puts in a mixed CD and thinks about the potion. What the hell will their suspects come up with next?

2

	Dexter sets up a camcorder and aims it as his bed. He stands back and nods. Perfect. Now all he has to do is wait for an old friend to arrive. The nineteen year old, six foot five inch tall pit bull sits on his bed. Where he’s at in life isn’t the greatest, but it beats living on the streets. For the last year and a half his source of pay has been showing off his body to people online, and doing what they want. At first the requests were simple; flex his muscles, show off his manhood and masturbate, but the last six months things changed either for the worse or the best.
	It threw him off the first time somebody asked him to rape somebody, and after thinking it over for a day, he decided to go ahead and do it. His fans know he’s gay, and they don’t seem to have a problem with him going after males. Then out of nowhere somebody sent him a link and offered to send him some shrinking potion. The site involves anthros, and the occasional human, devouring their victims. An act Dexter didn’t think he could do until the package arrived, and tried the stuff on a random guy. From then on he’ll rape and devour somebody live, or make a video and post it on the site. It does please him to know his fan base doubled since joining the vore site.
	The tan and white pit bull stands in front of a mirror and flexes his muscles. He had an interest in weight lifting since being a freshman, and by his junior year his entire body bulged with muscle. By then he noticed he has a strange interest in other males, but he didn’t come to terms with his sexuality until his senior year. During his final year of high school he noticed the underclassmen giving him plenty of room. A month for graduating he figures it wouldn’t hurt to reward himself for keeping a high GPA all four years. He wasn’t planning on raping somebody, but he couldn’t pass up the opportunity when he came across a lone freshman in an empty hall during lunch. From then on playing with those he deems weak became a hobby, and one he has no interest in outgrowing.
	Dexter looks into the mirror and licks his lips. He did learn one important thing throughout the years: society doesn’t seem to think males can be victims of rape. That along makes what he does more enjoyable. The pit bull looks outside. The drive-way is empty. Providing he doesn’t become cocky and do his deed to future victims while his parents are home, his secret should continue to be safe. The pit bull grins devilishly. Considering his parents are out of town every weekend for business means being caught by them may never happen. He remembers his mom and dad flipping out when he told them what he does, but they calmed down once he gave them both a three hundred dollar check. He knows his parents don’t approve of how he’s making a living, but they agree it’s better than dealing drugs.
	The pit bull puts on a pair of blue shorts and a light grey tank top. He looks around. Everything’s ready. His friend should arrive any minute. Dexter makes some adjustments to his camera, and smiles when the door bell rings. He pushes record and leads a Dalmatian into his room. He talks to his old friend for a couple of minutes, and watches him lie down on his bed. It’s not quite how he wants things, but it’ll do. Dexter jumps on top of the Dalmatian in a heartbeat, and shifts his body around. The dog doesn’t have the strength to push him off. The pill bull cackles in his friend’s face. It shouldn’t take him long to tire out.
	His friend no longer has it in him. Dexter looks at his clock. It took him close to a half hour to throw in the towel. The pit bull sits on the Dalmatian’s chest, and takes off his shorts. He climbs off of the dog to roll him into his stomach, and crawls back on top of him. For the next three minutes he thrusts his hips until he climaxes. He kneels on top of the Dalmatian, and pulls a bottle out of his nightstand. Dexter inhales the grape scent as he pours the liquid onto the dog. The pit bull looks over his shoulder. He may buy an extra camera so he can have more shots to work with. He looks down and sees the Dalmatian to be one and a half inches tall.
	Dexter grabs his friend by the leg, and stands in front of the camera. He makes a show of lowering the Dalmatian into his mouth. The pit bull closes his jaws, grins playfully and opens them. He zooms in on his friend, and records his movement for a half of a minute. He canine slowly closes his mouth, tilts his head back and swallows. For the next half hour he edits his video down to eight minutes, watches it a couple of times and posts it. He smiles. He can almost pick out the bulge as it glides down his throat. Within ten minutes the video receives a bunch of comments, a dozen favorites and several four and five star ratings. Moments later an admin send him an invite for a private video chat. He accepts and finds himself looking at a Bengal tiger.
	“I must applaud you,” the feline said. “You’ve done a rather good job of making your victims helpless and weak before ending their lives. Not often I see that. Most usually devour and make a show of the bulge and that’s it. You do more.”
	“It’s nothing really. I enjoy making others feel weak,” Dexter said.
	“You’re a rather dominate dog then. One that enjoys it.”
	“You could say something on that lines, I guess.”
	“I’m certain I just did,” the tiger said. “With me enjoying your videos, whether it be recorded or live, I’ve got a deal for you. I’ve got this new potion, you see, called Growther. I’ll give you free supplies, along with Unengrowther, in return for free membership of your services.”
	“That sounds nice,” Dexter nods. “Yep, I can do that. For sure. How soon will it come, and what’ll do?”
	“You’ll receive your first package three days from now, priority shipping, and the potion will cause you to grow a few feet taller. Watch the demonstration video if you want to see for yourself.”
	“I’ll do that,” Dexter said, clicking a couple of things. “There. You no longer have to pay the membership fee on my site.”
	“Excellent. Oh, and be sure to post a video of you using Growther. Until next time.”
	Dexter closes the chat window and leans back in his chair. A potion that’ll cause him to grow. The pit bull rubs his lower jaw and nods. He likes the sounds of that. Shrinking and gulping his victims was becoming dull. Soon he’ll be able to rub a full stomach like those on the site. The pit bull makes a bogus ad on Google asking for assistance with yard work, and blinks at how fast he receives a response. The person that’ll help is male. Nice. He tells the person where and when to meet, and gives him a quote.
	That night the pit bull types up a little bio about the Dalmatian for personal reasons while eating pizza. Dexter licks his lips. He found close to fifty dollars in his friend’s wallet, half of which went for his dinner. He looks over what he has, nods and saves. The pit bull sticks the Dalmatian’s shirt, pants and other articles of clothing into three separate plastic bags. Once they’re full he’ll dump them into different drop off boxes for clothes. He proceeds to shred his friend’s cards and pictures, and decides to keep the wallet for himself.
	Dexter stays up until midnight making changes to his profile on the vore site, and to his personal website. The pit bull chuckles weakly. If only his old high school buddies knew he was a computer geek. Of course being buff probably played a role in preventing those who did know from talking smack. By one he likes what he’s done and turns off his computer. There are a couple of minor tweaks to work on, but those can wait until tomorrow.

3

	Nick stares at the ceiling. There’s so much shit going on in his mind he can’t even think about going to sleep. Two days from now K-9 Comp will close their doors. He sighs and looks at a picture of his business partner. He’ll do what he can to make sure Jon doesn’t fall apart. Then there’s the large amount of cases the VTF are working on, and the number seems to increase every day that passes. The young man sighs. He knew his career choice would cause a large amount of stress sooner or later. Nick clenches his hands. The worst thing on his mind has to deal with what Charlie and Steele did.
	The day he left for Spokane he had an idea on what his partners were up to, but didn’t think it would be something serious. With Charlie telling him everything explains the disappearances that took place in the mountains throughout June. He’s happy with the amount of information the canines gave him, but he can’t bring himself into saying thanks. To make things worse, he has more secrets to keep from everybody, especially Retna and Linda. It took him years to prove himself to both agents, and now that work relationship is at risk thanks to Charlie and Steele. Nic places his head on Chance’s chest and wraps his arms around his body. Thing may never be the same between him and his partners.
	The computer expert climbs out of bed at six, and takes a twenty minute shower. He spends most of the time trying to clear his mind. Nick tosses his towel and clothes into a basket, and leaves the bedroom barefoot. He starts the coffee even though he doesn’t drink it, and makes himself some waffles. Things are a blur for the next hour. He remembers greeting and kissing Chance good-bye, and making a couple of phone calls, but can’t recall climbing into Charlie’s car. When he comes back to earth he finds himself looking out the window. It takes him a couple of seconds to remember where they’re going.
	“You don’t look to well, you sure you want to do this?” Charlie asks.
	“No, not really, but I need to do something that’ll keep my mind off things,” Nick said. “If this week doesn’t cause me to have a mental breakdown, then I may never have one.”
	“You’ve got a lot on your plate. How upset are you?”
	“You have a lot of nerve to ask me that, you know? Of course I’m upset at you and Steele. To make things worse you brought Steele along a month after giving him and me a hard time about the very thing, and now I have to keep what you’ve done from our partners. That sure as hell won’t be easy, especially with you getting all of these addresses and other information,” Nick said. “Although I am happy you finally came forward about your ‘source.’”
	“We owe you-“
	“You damn right you do. Both you and Steele,” the young man pulls out his Vapor King. “Let’s talk about something else. I got what I have to say off my chest. Plus I don’t want to show up angry.”
	“Before we do, you won’t mind if I keep visiting him?”
	“I don’t give a shit. Despite what he got you into doing, those addresses have been helpful.”
	“Don’t worry, he’s done doing his thing as well.”
	“Is that what you talked about this last time?” Nick sees Charlie nod. “I really should go up there, but you also need your privacy.”
	“Don’t be scared to let me know if you change your mind,” the German shepherd said. “What’s your plan when it comes to gaining access to that site?”
	“I’m still working on one. Right now I just want to finish this week before moving forward with that.”
	Charlie nods. He and his roommates will help his friend cope with everything the best they can. The German shepherd stops himself from reaching over and scratching Nick’s head. He watches him vape out of the corner of his eye. He has a lot of respect for his partner. He doesn’t know anybody who can go through a lifetime of crap and not develop any kind of problem. Charlie doubts he’ll ever be as strong as Nick.
	The German shepherd follows Nick to their testing area in the warehouse, and him unlock and turn everything on. The agents go over some documents until Dr. Johnson arrives. Charlie heads into a changing room while Nick shows the mutt the bottle. It’s no shocker to hear the scientist he has his own sample of the stuff, and is already in the process of making more. The German shepherd hangs his shirt and pulls down his pants.
	“Mr. Keller, your trip to Spokane wasn’t long,” Dr. Johnson said.
	“Gary already had everything. He more less wanted my help with the computer stuff, among other things. Needless to say if it wasn’t for Balto’s tips, I wouldn’t be here.”
	“It’s good to hear, Mr. Keller. Are you ready, Mr. Barkin?”
	“Uh, as ready as I’ll ever be,” the agent said, stepping out of the room. “Maybe we should get a hold of somebody and see if they can make an artificial stomach. It wouldn’t hurt to train ourselves, and newcomers, how to move in a tight space like that.”
	“Good idea. I’ll get right to things after this test,” the mutt said. “You read, Mr. Keller?”
	“In a minute. I’d like to measure Charlie before he drinks this stuff.”
	“Another good idea.”
	“Charlie, up against the wall.”
	“Of course, officer,” the German shepherd chuckles.
	Nick smiles and stands on a foot stool to make a line lever to his partner’s head. Dr. Johnson walks up with a tape measure.
	“You’re of seven feet two inches.”
	“Then I should grow to over twelve if what I’m talking is true.”
	Nick hands Charlie a bottle and watches him drink it. “How does it taste?”
	“Like grape,” the agent said, smacking his lips. “At least they know how to make the potions taste good.”
	Nick nods and places the bottle on his desk. In less than a minute he watches the German shepherd grow.
	“I already notice a difference,” Nick said once Charlie’s done growing. “You don’t shoot up like with the other stuff.”
	“Good news.”
	“Mr. Keller, we’ve got a slight problem. We have no short ladder to use.”
	“I got a way,” Nick said, walking up to Charlie. “Pick me up and stand against the wall.”
	The young man lifts his arms, and looks down as Charlie picks him up by the waist. The German shepherd’s fingers overlap. Nick leans across his partner’s face and makes a line. He helps Dr. Johnson with the measuring tape.
	“Hm. You’re of eleven feet six inches, Mr. Barkin. You hear?”
	“Clear. Not quite five feet.”
	“I think we’ll have to do more tests once we have more stuff to work with,” Nick said, putting his hands on Charlie’s wrists. “Man it’s strange being held like this.”
	“And it must be stranger looking at me like this.”
	“A little.”
	Charlie nods and places Nick on the ground. “I guess this means we wait and see what I shrink back?”
	“Afraid so, Mr. Barkin,” Dr. Johnson.
	Nick spends the next couple of hours going over and typing up the addresses Charlie and Steele gave him. He starts a new spreadsheet for those from Canada, and places an order for a map of each province. He finishes what needs to be taken care of, and uses the rest of his day massaging the top of Charlie’s head. The next time somebody ingests Growther he’ll be sure to go into their stomach and see how much ooze this stuff makes.
	An hour after dinner, Nick sits on Charlie’s bed and brushes his back. He’s far from forgiving his partner, but he can’t allow that to stop him from doing things he enjoys to do. Plus he doesn’t want Chance and Balto becoming suspicious of what’s going on between him, Charlie and Steele. Nick place’s his roommate’s brush on his dresser, bids him good-night and walks into his room. He finds Chance in bed going over some papers. The young man puts on a pair of boxers and crawls next to his boyfriend. For the second night in a row he only sleeps for a couple of hours.

4

	Steele wakes up and looks at his clock. Six thirty-three. He rolls onto his back, and studies all of the pictures Nick made for him over the course of two months. The Alaskan malamute slams his hands on his forehead and growls. Why did he agree to go with Charlie? He should’ve gave the German Shepherd a hard time for describing his plans to him, but instead a voice in his head told him to go along, and once again Nick appears to be paying for their mistake. Steele swears on his life he’ll never do anything that’ll cause his friend more stress.
	Steele steps out of the shower and wraps a towel around his waist. He studies his wounds in front of a mirror. At least his fur does a good job of hiding the teeth marks. There’s no way he or Charlie could’ve came up with a convincing story explaining how he received them, and thankfully the doctor in Canada didn’t ask too many questions. The Alaskan Malamute rubs some odorless ointment on his wounds. Another week or so and he’ll be done. He puts on a pair of black shorts and a sleeveless shirt and heads upstairs.
	He pours a mug of coffee, and stands in the dining room while watching the weather report. The dog folds back his ears when he sees the extended forecast: mid to upper eighties all week. It’s a good thing they agreed to install air conditioning units on the third and second floor. Steele sets his mug on the table, and places a bagel and bread into a toaster. He nods as Chance leaves and looks around. Nick’s nowhere to be seen. That can only mean one thing: he and Jon are closing their story a day early. Steele shakes his head. It’s a damn shame a great store has gone out of business.
	The Alaskan malamute eats his breakfast while Charlie does his thing. He nods when the German shepherd tells him Balto will drive himself. He doubts it’s true, but doesn’t want to question it. He figures he can use the trip to bring up a couple of things, both of which has to deal with Nick and what they’ve done. Steele follows Charlie to his car and climbs in.
	“How’s your neck?” the German shepherd asks.
	“The medication I’m using his stopped any infection from forming, and the wounds are healing fine,” the Alaskan malamute said. “We can’t have Nick hide anymore of our shit.”
	“I know. He’s already hiding what you did from Retna, and here I am dumping more onto him.”
	“What made you want to bring me along?”
	“Honestly, I can’t answer that, but I’d rather not talk about it. What we’ve done is in the past, and the best thing we can do is move forward. Or try to anyway.”
	“What’ll happen if Retna or Linda finds out? I don’t want Nick taking the blame for what we’ve done.”
	“I’ll do my best to convince them not to charge him with anything.”
	“How did our partner look in the morning?”
	“Awful. I haven’t seen him this down since he and Jon broke up. The best thing we can do is keep him busy.”
	“I know what we can have him do. He’s been wanting to paint a portrait for us.”
	Charlie thinks it over. “I know just the thing to get. You interested in leaving early to help me buy Nick art supplies?”
	“I’m up for it.”
	They arrive at the office by seven thirty, and go to work on various things. If neither one are helping their partners with a case, they’re making a list of things to buy for Nick. Charlie receives permission from Retna to leave at one. The hyena tells the German shepherd Nick doesn’t have to return until Monday. Steele grabs a bottle of water from the break room after helping Slash with a couple of things, and makes a mental list of other items to buy. He looks up when Charlie walks in.
	“Turn it to Komo,” he said. “They’re at K-9 Comp.”
	The canines sit back as they listen to a black panther.
	“What turned into a dream come true six years ago is about to come to an end. For over half a decade K-9 Comp not only helped thousands of costumers, but they helped all of the businesses throughout the area fix their computer problems. Everybody who bought computers and software here can agree on one thing: they’re going to miss the store. Not only did the owners offer a large selection of desktops, laptops, and printers, but they would take the time to install the new software and show the costumers how to use it if the costumers had any problems,” the panther said. “We’ve interviewed management to some of the other businesses the owners of K-9 Comp helped.”
	A red fox comes on screen. “Yeah, we’ll miss’em. They are real good at what they do, and were quick to help. What’s better is they’d help our business out. They’d tell those who were waiting for their computers to be fixed to come over to our place. It’s a damn shame this had to happen to a couple of nice fellas like them.”
	A golden retriever is shown. “It’s a pity. I’ve shopped here since the beginning, and they were more helpful then them big stores. But with the economy the way it is, there’s not much we can do. I just wish them the best.”
	“While most of the workers been busy, we did get a word from one of the co-owners: Nick Keller,” the black panther said. “This is what he had to say”
	“The next couple of days are going to be hard on us emotionally. We, me and Jon, worked hard to save our money to open K-9 Comp, and this is how it pays off. Although I am happy to say our employees do have jobs to go to after today, and I hope places like Staples and Office Max learn a couple of things from us.”
	“What about you, will you be going to work for somebody else?”
	“I decided not to. I’m pretty busy with my other job, plus I want to work on my paintings.”
	“Now I should point out Nick does work for the VTF, and all of the pictures you see all on the walls were made by him as well,” the panther said. “This is Tina Lane from Komo 4 News.”
	Steele turns off the TV.

***

	Nick stays with Jon after closing hours and follows him to his apartment. Neither one can come to terms their store is gone. While talking about what they plan on doing in the future, the former lovers kiss each other on the lips. One thing turned into another, and before they can stop themselves, they make love. What they did doesn’t register until they think about it, but that isn’t what bothers Nick. It’s what Jon tells him that makes him emotional, and the fact it’s going to make things difficult between him and Chance. It’s yet another problem on his plate, and this one is self inflicting.
	Nick dries his eyes as pulls into the driveway and takes a deep breath. He needs to tell Chance what happened, even if it means losing somebody close. The young man looks towards the garage. It’s dark. He walks into the dining room, and sees Chance helping Charlie and Steele set things up.
	“Chance, can I see you in our room please?”
	The Siberian husky closes the door behind him. “What’s going on, mate?”
	“I... had an affair with Jon. Shortly after we arrived at his place.”
	Chance takes a deep breath. “Is there more?”
	“There is. I still have strong feelings for him, and it turns out he feels the same towards me.”
	“I see. Does this mean I should head back to Australia?”
	“No. You mean a lot to me. You helped me a lot when I was down there.”
	“Likewise, mate,” Chance sits on their bed. “If Jon still has these feelings for you, why’d he break up with you in the first place?”
	“That has to deal with Charlie said regarding Carface. He’ll tell you those kidnapped by that crazed dog are never seen again, and Jon already pictured Charlie and them finding me dead. When I came home from the hospital, he couldn’t get passed my injuries. He was nervous he’d hurt me more,” Nick sits next to his boyfriend.
	“I remember you telling me part of that, mate, and I may have been in the same boat if I was in his situation. The question is who do you want to be with?”
	“I don’t know. I love you, I really, but I also still love Jon. You both helped me deal with several rough patches.”
	“You said that already, and you’ve helped me.”
	“How upset are you at me?”
	“Can’t say I’m too happy with what you did, but I can’t be too upset either. You both went through a harsh moment today, and it seems you used the moment to help comfort each other. I’m guilty of doing the same,” Chance said. “Besides, it’s not like I don’t already allow you to cheat on me with Charlie.”
	He nods and wraps his arms around Chance’s body. He tears up as he rubs his head against his chest, and completely loses it the moment the Siberian husky returns the hug.

5

	Dexter stops for a second to wipe sweat off of his forehead, and looks at a Dalmatian he brought home a couple of hours ago. What he said in the ad wasn’t a lie. Before leaving to go on another trip, his parents ask him to do something about the backyard. For the most part he doesn’t need the help, but doing yard work on Saturday isn’t his idea of fun. The pit bull grins as he goes back to work. Plus he needs a test subject for today’s video. Dexter watches the Dalmatian. The canine looks rather tasty.
	During their breaks they talk about themselves. The pit bull mentions how much he can beach press, and the Dalmatian says something about going back to school. Dexter pretends to care what the hired hand has to say. The only thing on his mind is turning him into a mid-afternoon snack. At two they finish the last of the trimming and pulling, and clean up the mess within an hour. The pit bull shows the Dalmatian where he can wash up, and heads into his room. He turns on his cameras and tells his viewers the fun is about to begin. Dexter pulls a small bottle and two hundred dollars out of his desk. The Dalmatian walks in without knocking.
	“Nice looking digs you’ve got in here.”
	“Uh, thanks.”
	“I bet whatever you do pays you well. It must with this amount of stuff you got.”
	“It’s a great job. I have the privilege to work here.”
	“Lucky dog. Been looking my ass off for one and ain’t finding much, except with ads like yours.”
	“Considering you’ve done an excellent job, I’ll look into hiring you in the future,” Dexter hands out the money. “Two hundred as I stated.”
	“Nice. It was nice working with you.”
	“Of course I’m willing to pay you a little more if you’re interested.”
	“Shoot, kid, you’ve got my ears. What I’m to do?”
	“Not a whole bunch. Just be my victim.”
	Dexter grabs the Dalmatian by his shoulders and throws him into his room. He closes the door. There isn’t a chance in hell he’ll allow somebody to walk out of his house with his money. He chuckles at the Dalmatian’s weak attempt at acting tough. The pit bull motions for him to do something, and decks him in the gut. He grabs his bottle of Growther and considers undressing. Shrugging, Dexter guzzles the liquid. It won’t hurt if he loses a couple of articles of clothing. The pit bull smacks his lips. The stuff has a nice grape flavor.
	The Dalmatian rubs his stomach and gulps down air. The punch itself didn’t hurt that much, but the force was enough to knock the wind out of him. The dog fixes his eyes on the pit bull as he drinks something. What the hell got into him? The Dalmatian sits up. He’ll be sure to teach the pit bull a thing or two before he leaves. He stops moving and rubs his eyes. Are they playing tricks on him? There’s no way the pit bull could be growing. He gulps. This isn’t a dream.
	“What on this earth did you drink?” the Dalmatian asks.
	“A growing potion. One that taste like grape soda.”
	“Very cute, but I think I’ll be leaving now.”
	“I don’t think so,” Dexter said heartily. “This is why I had you come over. Why you think I didn’t say you’ll come straight here in the ad?”
	“Sneaky, but you’ll be caught.”
	“By whom? Those VTF bastards? I’d like to see ‘em try, and if they do come, they’ll be given the same fate as you.”
	The Dalmatian looks around with his eyes. There’s no way for him to escape. At least he did the smart thing by saving and printing the ad. Perhaps that is all the Voreaphile Task Force needs as a reference, providing the pit bull makes another ad. The Dalmatian grunts as how hard the teenager pushes him onto his back, and watches him lift his foot. He throws up his arms as it comes down. He struggles to breathe as a large amount of pressure pushes down on his body.
	Dexter looks down and smiles. His entire foot covers the Dalmatian’s body. The pit bull pushes down. Those watching might be enjoying the show. He licks his lips knowing some might be enjoying it a little too much. He applies more pressure, and lifts his foot by the count of twenty. The Dalmatian appears out of it. Dexter nods. Just the way he likes his victims. He leans down and scoops him up by the waist.
	Dexter wastes no time shoving the Dalmatian’s head and shoulders into his mouth. He grins. He can get use to this. The pit bull swallows. Everything glides down with ease. Now if only he could see the bulge. He sends the Dalmatian’s chest down his esophagus. Dexter thinks things over. Perhaps he’ll take his time with his next victim. Right now he just wants to see what it’s like to rub a squirming stomach. That is if the Dalmatian comes around in time. A couple of gulps sends the dog’s abdomen across his tongue and down his throat.
	The pit bull tilts his head back and hears a loud thud. He sees the Dalmatian’s heels pushing up against the ceiling. Dexter sits on his bed. At least there’s no scuff marks or holes. He holds back a chuckle. That would be a hard thing to explain to his parents. He calms his emotions, and goes to work on his victim’s legs. He rubs his growing stomach. It’s his first time, and he already loves it. Dexter moans happily. The Dalmatian’s taste has finally kicked in. Once he’s back to his regular height he’ll be sure to order more Growther, along with Unengrowther. The pit bull gulps down the rest of his victim, and leans back on his hands. Today he learns something important: his bed can support the extra weight.
	Dexter rubs the squirming bulge as he recalls what he read about the potion. The stuff is strong enough to digest ninety-eight percent of what the victim has on. Everything else should pass through without giving too much problem. The pit bull licks his lips. Eight hours from now he’ll be back to his regular height, and by then there should be nothing left of the Dalmatian. Dexter grins. He should see if there’s a reward for devouring one of those agents. Something he’ll do when he orders more stuff. The pit bull stands and flexes his muscles in front of the camera.

6

	Nick spends most of his weekend going over the supplies his roommates bought him, and pictures of his partners. He plans on taking on a couple if he doesn’t find anything to his liking. By Sunday he comes to the conclusion to take a couple of pictures of Retna, Linda and the rookies. Painting portraits should keep his mind off of K-9 Comp, and to stay calm whenever things become stressful at work. He’s not sure he should make something for those who’ve fallen throughout the years.
	Whenever he isn’t busy going over his art supplies or looking up information, he helps Chance in the garage; whether it’s taking a picture of a bike, giving it a new paint job or a handful of other things. As far as he can tell the Siberian Husky doesn’t seem to be holding what he did against him, or giving Jon a hard time for not controlling himself. If Chance doesn’t need his help, Nick spends time with his other roommates and/or cleaning the house.
	The computer expert returns to work on Monday and within an hour he has a picture of the rest of his partners. Once he puts away his camera he goes to work on his project. Nick wraps more labels around pins, sticks them on a map and studies what he has. There’s no question about it, he’s more than ready to head down to Rockford, Colorado. The young man leans against his desk. He may not be able to bring the maps of the provinces of Canada to his office. It depends on if there are any reports mentioning what a Steele and Charlie did. The young man jumps onto his computer and finds a couple of articles, but neither one has a description of the suspects. That alone may be enough to prevent Retna, Nate and Linda from connecting the dots. He sees the vixen walk in and closes his windows.
	“How’ve you been since the store closed?” she asks.
	“It hurts. That store was our dream, and that dream just came to an end. The thing that hurts the most is we were doing so well for five years. We’ve always made profit, even during the slow days, but that all went down the crapper this past year and a half.”
	“What do you think caused it?”
	“The economy and high gas. We’re had costumers come as far as Renton and Everett, but once the gas prices went up, well, you know how that goes. Plus with a good number losing their jobs didn’t help.”
	“Yeah, things are hard these days,” Linda sits beside Nick. “What Retna said when you wanted his picture?”
	“Nothing. He said to take one of him doing is usual thing, and I did. The nice thing about the store closing is now I have more time to paint.”
	“You’re pretty good at that as well.”
	“Thanks,” Nick smiles. “I remember a couple of teachers say I’m either going to make a living working with computers or as an artist.”
	“And here you are being successful at both,” the vixen said, looking at Nick’s map. “When will you be heading to Rockford?”
	“The first of August for sure. I keep pushing the date back, but a lot of crap keeps coming up.”
	“I think Ramone would be impressed with this. Oh hell, anybody who saw this should be. The amount of time you put into your investigation has paid off.”
	“I can understand why. Finding what you need can be stressful all right. Are you still vaping?”
	“Yep. Thing has done an excellent job of keeping me away from lighting up, and I don’t have to go outside, especially when I’m really into something.”
	“That’s good. You also don’t stink like an ashtray anymore,” Linda said. “But what’s your reason for still going outside?”
	“I’m just taking a breather.”
	“Those do come in handy. Did Charlie inform you of the latest files?”
	Nick nods. “There’s one thing I find interesting. From what I read, somebody’s husband saw an ad to help somebody with some yard work, and he left to meet somebody at some store.”
	“That’s pretty common. You never know the type of person you’ll end up dealing with.”
	“I agree and disagree. In some cases I can see that, but with yard work? I’ve seen other ads talk about the same thing, and the person mentions to call them for directions and/or an address.”
	“Let’s agree it’s a case by case type of thing.”
	“That’ll work. I did send an e-mail to his wife asking if she has a copy of the ad. We can probably used that as a reference, and to set up a sting type of operation when we come across one that’s similar.”
	“Good plan, and I’m certain you told Retna and Nate?”
	“Of course, and they’re for it.”
	“As usual, nice work. I’ll get out of your hair so you can continue with your thing.”
	Nick smiles and looks at his screen. A couple of minutes later he receives a reply with the ad. He reads it and sends it to Charlie, Retna and Nate. They agree there’s something fishy about it. He shows it to Slash, who then mentions seeing ads like that on a couple of sites on certain days. With the amount of information he has, Nick asks a couple of his partners to join him in the break room. They agree on a plan within an hour. The computer expert reads up on the case that involves Dr. Valentine for the remainder of the computer, and promises Slash and Arrow he’ll help them once he’s back from Rockford.
	The first thing Nick does when he returns home is print up the pictures. He hasn’t made up his mind on which he’ll do first. For the next hour he talks to Jon of MSN. His former boyfriend seems to be in good spirit. With nothing else to do, he leans back in his chair and vapes. There’s one thing he would like to do, but isn’t quite sure how his roommates will take it, especially Chance. Nick bites his lower lip. Out of them all, Charlie and Steele better not have any problems. Balto tells him dinner’s ready.
	“Would it be okay if Jon moves in?” Nick asks half way through their meal.
	“What’s wrong with his place, mate?” Chance asks.
	“Nothing really. He’s living there by himself, and the rent isn’t exactly cheap.”
	“What happened to Vince?” Balto asks.
	“I guess he moved back to California to be with his family, and I doubt Jurassic will be coming back.”
	“I don’t see nothing wrong with it, we just have to make an additional room,” Charlie said. “Is there more we should know?”
	“One. Jon agreed to help us with that website.”
	“Will it be done in the basement?” Steele asks.
	“No. We can’t really use the basement anymore. I’m sure somebody would recognize it, even if we rearrange things. The original homeowners told me they were going to put an additional room upstairs when they building the house, but something fell through,” Nick said. “I know Jon’s dad will help cover the cost of finishing that extra room.”
	“We can’t always rely on him for things,” Charlie said.
	“I know, but he’ll insist on helping. You know that’s how he is.”
	“He’s right. Look at all he wanted to buy us when he moved in,” the wolf-dog said.
	“Point taken. You can tell Jon he can move in once we have the room added,” the German shepherd said.
	“Thanks,” Nick said.
	An hour later.
	“I don’t know if I enjoy this idea of Jon moving in, mate,” Chance said.
	“Don’t worry, we won’t do what we did a couple of days ago.”
	“That’s not what I’m worry about. You’re his ex and vice versa. Wouldn’t that be a little weird?”
	“We did it before. We’re still close,” Nick said. “Plus he helped me through some rough times. I’d like to repay him in one way or another.”
	“I understand that, mate. I still find the idea weird, but I’ve got no choice but deal with it.”
	Nick stays quiet as he climbs into bed. He should’ve talked things over with his boyfriend before saying anything to Jon about moving in. The young man stares at the ceiling. He’s done the right thing. Having his former boyfriend move in will do them both a lot of good. The young man closes his eyes as Chance wraps his arms around him, and rolls into his body. The Siberian husky will come to terms with things.

7

	Balto steps out of the shower and dries off. He winces as he struggles to dry his back. He’s not sure what he did to upset Goldie, but there’s a good chance he deserved the beating she gave him. The wolf-dog looks into the mirror. At least his fur does a good job of hiding the welts and gashes. Sighing, the agent rubs some ointment on his wounds and puts on some clothes. Balto chuckles weakly. Soon he’ll be sharing his bathroom with somebody else. He sits on the foot of his bed and puts on his shoes. He winces as he sits up straight.
	The mutt struggles not to laugh as he heads downstairs. He’s unsure of what came over him, but yesterday at work he agreed to give the latest potion, and to see what it’s like to send Nick to his stomach. Two things he thought he would never do. Balto warms up some oatmeal and accepts a mug of coffee from Chance. The wolf-dog takes a sip, and unfolds the newspaper. He pays little attention to everything that’s going on around him as he reads the articles. At a quarter to eight he rides with Charlie and Nick to the warehouse. He smiles at the thought of devouring his roommate. There’s a strong chance he’ll do it again if he enjoys it.
	Balto looks around as Nick gives him a tour. The place changed quite a bit throughout the month. He likes having a changing room in the testing area, a good size shower and tub are a nice upgrade, and the amount of privacy they have. The wolf-dog asks Dr. Johnson several questions regarding Growther while Nick changes into his scuba gear. Balto bites his lower lip as Charlie measures him, and steps away from the wall and sees he’s still six feet seven inches. The wolf-dog watches Charlie and Dr. Johnson hook Nick up to a pulley system. Balto takes a deep breath. It’s his turn to do his thing. He steps out of the dressing room five minutes later.
	“Nick’s about done,” Charlie said, handing Balto a bottle. “You sure you want to do this?”
	“I’m sure. I can’t let you and Steele have all of the fun,” the wolf-dog said. “Besides, this is something we all should do.”
	“And we’ve got a foot ladder to measure you after you’re done growing, Mr. Wolfen,” Dr. Johnson said. “When would you like that to be done?”
	“We can measure me first. That shouldn’t take too long.”
	“Good, cause I’m not ready yet,” Nick said, unhooking himself. “I’ll be back. Everything works, there’s just one more thing I’d like to do.”
	“Take your time, Mr. Keller.”
	Balto chugs the potion and dries his lips. “Reminds me of grape soda. How long will it take?”
	“Two, three minutes. This stuff doesn’t work quite as fast as the other,” Charlie places the bottle on the table.
	“Shame Nick won’t have you go into each other’s stomach, Mr. Barkin.” Dr. Johnson said.
	“I agree, but I understand his reason. He said it best when we started doing this. He’s the smallest, which means he’s the easiest to swallow,” the agent said. “Plus nobody else wants to do it.”
	“He doesn’t seem willing either.”
	“We know, but it’s something he knows has to be done.”
	“And to think we were only going to use him for minor stuff,” Balto said.
	“I do get a kick out of that whenever I watch him work,” Charlie said.
	Balto opens his mouth to say something, but looks at his hands instead. The stuff seems to be kicking in, and Nick isn’t back to watch it happen. The wolf-dog closes his eyes. At least his wounds don’t hurt as he grows. He stops. He stands there while taking everything in. It’s odd to look down at everybody, for once. Balto stands against the wall, and learns he’s shy of being twelve feet. He smiles when Nick returns.
	“Here’s how tall he’s grown, Mr. Keller.”
	“Okay, thanks,” Nick said, typing up the information as Charlie hooks him back to the pulley system. “Too soon to get an average though.”
	“Is there a chance you’ll drink this stuff?” Charlie asks.
	“You sure that’s a good idea?”
	“You’re right, it isn’t. We can’t have you have any fun.”
	“And I know I’ll end up paying for it.”
	“That too,” Charlie says with a small smirk.
	“Whenever you’re ready, Mr. Keller,” Dr. Johnson said.
	“I’m as ready as I’ll ever be,” Nick said, putting on his headlamp and turns the light and camera on.
	“How about you, Mr. Wolfen?”
	“The same as Nick,” the wolf-dog said, picking up his partner by the waist. “Any last words?”
	“A couple. I rubbed some butter on my suit, which should add some flavor and to make it easier to swallow. I don’t know if you saw, but the rope is under my scuba gear, which should prevent your throat from becoming raw.”
	“I appreciate that. Anything else?”
	“Once my head enters your stomach, Dr. Johnson and Charlie will signal you to stop. If your jaws and/or muscles start to cramp up, or you begin to gag, go ahead and gulp the rest of me down. They’ll take care of the rest,” Nick puts on his goggles. “What about covers everything.”
	“All right. Well, here goes nothing.”
	Balto lowers his snout and shoves Nick’s head and shoulders into his mouth. He picks up the buttery taste as he gulps down his partner. The wolf-dog pretends not to notice a bulge forming in his throat. The last thing he wants to do is enjoy it too much. Balto holds onto the human’s calves with both hands, and tilts his head back. He stops the moment he sees the canines wave their arms, and uses his teeth to hold his partner in place. Balto moves his to prevent his neck muscles from cramping up.
	“It seems only his feet and a third of his calves are left,” Dr. Johnson said. “Can we be heard, Mr. Keller?”
	“Yes. Let Balto know he’s not biting down too hard.”
	“Hey Balto, Nick wants you to know you’re not biting too hard,” Charlie said.
	The wolf-dog smiles and gives them the thumbs-up.
	“He gave us the thumbs-up, Nick.”
	“All right,” the young man said. “How clear is the video?”
	“Crystal. Is it me, or is the purple ooze the same stuff that forms with Engrowther?”
	“It looks and smells like it, but there’s a chance there could be a difference. Let’s see if I can get a sample.”
	“While you do that, anything else you want Mr. Wolfen to do, Mr. Keller?”
	“If he’s comfortable doing it, he can rub and pat his stomach. I’d like to see if I can hear it.”
	“Hey Balto, if you’re up to it, Nick wants you to rub and pat your stomach.”
	Balto thinks about it and nods. He rubs his stomach and smacks it a couple of times. The wolf-dog grabs friend’s feet and stretches his jaws.
	“You almost done, Nick?” Charlie asks.
	“Yeah, and I heard a small thumping sound,” Nick said, placing a sandwich bag inside a cloth bag. “Okay, you can pull me out.”
	Balto helps Charlie and Dr. Johnson pull Nick up his throat and out of his mouth, and rubs his jaws. Besides of his jaws and neck muscles cramping up, the process wasn’t too bad. Not once did he have the urge to gag. He chuckles when he realizes he’s still holding Nick and puts him down. There’s a chance he’ll do it again, but only if the human asks him to. Balto lies down on his stomach so he can listen to what his partners and the scientist have to say.
	The wolf-dog plays around on his computer an hour after dinner, brushes his teeth and climbs into bed. He reads in silence. For the next half an hour his mind is off of his relationship, work and everything else. It comes to an end by a knock and a familiar sounding voice. Balto looks at his clock. There must be something important Nick wants to tell him if he’s up here this late. The wolf-dog puts his book and reading glasses on his nightstand, and gives his friend permission to enter.
	“Sorry to bother you this late, but I need to ask you something. It’s about Goldie.”
	“What’s it about?” Balto asks.
	“How is she treating you?”
	“That seems a little blunt.”
	“I know, but there’s no other way for me to ask. Well?”
	“What brought that up?”
	“Just the way you’ve been acting. I’m not the only one who noticed it. Steele, Charlie and Kodi have to,” Nick said. “Has she been beating you?”
	“Okay, where the hell did you get that from?”
	“The way you jumped when Charlie grabbed your shoulder tonight, and the way you were sitting on the ride back from the warehouse. Should I go on?”
	“No need.”
	“How long has it been going on?”
	Balto closes his eyes. “Can you please just drop it? It doesn’t concern you.”
	“I can’t. I wouldn’t be a friend if I did,” Nick said. “Balto, you don’t deserve what she’s doing to you.”
	“What about me being happy?”
	“You deserve that, but not if it’s going to be violent. I don’t care if you end up hating me for this, but I don’t want you to see Goldie anymore. I can’t allow you to be in a relationship that’s bound to kill you.”
	“Nick, please leave,” Balto said. “I’m an adult. I can make my own decisions.”
	“I know, but I can’t let you regarding this,” Nick stands in the door frame. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
	Balto folds back his ears as the human closes his door. Part of him is fuming over what Nick said, but the other is happy knowing somebody cares. The wolf-dog scoots under the covers and winces. He would like to break up with Goldie, but is scared on what she’ll do to him.

8

	Dexter wakes up to his mom knocking, and listens to what she has to say. The pit bull closes his eyes once she leaves. It’s more the same: not to throw any parties, to keep up his chores, and they’ll be back the following Tuesday. He falls back to sleep. The next time he opens his eyes it’s eight forty-nine. Yawning and smacking his lips, Dexter pulls himself out of bed and drags his feet into the bathroom. He steps into the shower wondering if he should buy a water proof camera. His fans may enjoy watching him clean his fur, among other things. It’s another thing to consider.
	The teenager dries off, and returns to his room. He rubs oil on his chest, puts on a jockstrap and turns on his computer. Dexter eats some waffles while it boots up, and checks the answering machine. It’s blinking. The pit bull listens to the message and licks his lips. He almost forgot about his trainee coming over to lift weights. He clears the message, sticks his dishes into the sink and sits in front of his computer. Dexter enters his website, logs into his video chat and puts on a headset. He looks to see how users are present. Forty and the number may increase once word travels he’s online. He writes a message on his account on the vore site.
	“And with that the numbers increase. Good thing I have a server strong enough to handle the load,” Dexter chuckles, trying a couple of things into windows. “I’ve got somebody coming over who I’ll be training to lift weights. How long should I allow him to build muscle before ending things? Until he’s done? That’ll work. What should I do to him? Knock him out and rape him on his back? I see that’s a popular choice. Today I’ll use Unengrowther. There’s something I want to do I haven’t done in a while.”
	Dexter takes off his headset and goes to work pulling out and setting up his Bo-flex. He looks at his clock. His trainee should be here in about ten minutes providing he’s on time. The pit bull flexes and stretches his muscles, and shows off his package in front of the camera. He laughs at some of the comments scrolling up in the chat room. The canine adjusts his webcam, and turns on a camcorder. He may post a video for those wouldn’t watch it live. The door bell rings.
	A twenty-five year old Alaskan Malamute name Thomas follows Dexter into his room. For the last couple of months the pit bull has been allowing him to use his Bo-flex for free. When he saw the ad he thought it was a joke, but things changed when he made the phone call. Since then he lost a couple of inches around his waist and his glove handles, and is in the process of losing his man boobs. It takes him a while to notice Dexter wearing just a jockstrap. The site doesn’t bother him. Thomas puts on a pair of shorts in the bathroom, and joins the pit bull in his bedroom.
	“Think today we’ll work on those legs of yours,” Dexter said.
	“Uh, girls don’t look at them. They into biceps and chest.”
	“True, but there’s no shame in building leg muscle.  That’s just as important.”
	“A’ight. You the trainer.”
	“Yep, and I’ll be starting you off with fifty pounds resistance.”
	For the next hour Dexter has the Alaskan malamute work on different portions of his legs. The pit bull watches Thomas struggle to walk as he puts his Bo-flex away. Perfect. His trainee may be a couple of inches taller than him, but he’s in no shape to fight back. He hands the canine a bottle of water, and motions for him to sit on his bed.
	“What’ll be done the next I’m here?”
	“I’d figure we’d work on them abs. I’m certain chicks dig those too.”
	“Hm, mm. Tell me, what’s wit’ you? You’ve gots any bitches?”
	“I’ve got Mrs. Right.”
	“Oh, I see,” Thomas chugs the rest of his water. “No, seriously.”
	“I’m flying solo at the moment.”
	“Pitiful. Oh well, more choices for me.”
	“Or until I look again.”
	“True that,” the Alaskan malamute said. “Same time next week?”
	“Sure, why not.”
	“A’ight. See ya until then.”
	“Hold up,” Dexter said, standing in front of the door. “There’s somebody I’d for you to meet.”
	“Yah? Whom?”
	“Mr. Foot.”
	The pit bull hits the side of the Alaskan malamute door with a standing side kick. The impact causes the dog to fall onto his hands and knees, but he’s not out cold. Dexter stands over his prey and licks his lips. What he wants to do might not be what his fans want, but they’ll live. He pulls the dog into a kneeling position, and rubs his head against his testicles. He slams his knee into Thomas’ skull and let’s go. The Alaskan malamute’s lower jaw his the floor with a loud crack. He’s out cold. Dexter has him nude and on his bed within seven minutes.
	The pit bull drops his jockstrap, lifts his victim’s feet into the air and crawls on top of him. He becomes hard a minute after dry humping the Alaskan malamute. Dexter leads his dick into Thomas’ anus, puts his hands on his pillow and thrusts his hips. He starts out slow and calm, but picks up the pace and intensity when he sees the dog opens and closes his eyes. Dexter grits his teeth. There’s no way in hell his trainee will be able to walk normal after today. That is if he allowed to leave. The pit bull pulls out of Thomas’ body minutes after climaxing and grabs a bottle of Unengrowther.
	Thomas blinks his eyes as his legs straighten out. His world spins. He’s not sure if he’ll be able to move again. Not with hose the pit bull fucked him. Then there’s his head. He rubs it and groans. He’ll need more than Advil to take care of the pain. Thomas notices something wet pooling on his stomach, but doesn’t do anything about it. He’s unaware of his body shrinking.
	Dexter puts the empty bottle on his desk, and zooms his camcorder onto the Alaskan malamute. Watching his victim shrink comes in great on the flip screen. He chuckles. Thomas is out of it. He turns on his other camera, adjusts it and kneels over his prey. Dexter makes sure he’s not blocking those watching online. The pit bull pushes the Alaskan malamute onto his belly, picks him up by the scruff of his back and drops him into his palm. He watches Thomas stumble around for a couple of seconds. Dexter lifts his hand up to his mouth and sticks out his tongue.
	Thomas grunts as he lands rather hard and awkward on something rough and fuzzy. The odd scent tells him the pit bull must be nearby. What else can Dexter do to him? The Alaskan malamute forces himself to stand, but falls after taking a step. The second try he succeeds at taking several steps, but when he falls, he lands on a soft and wet surface. Thomas doesn’t bother to stand up again. His legs are too weak to support his weight. He blacks out not knowing where he’s at.
	The pit bull pulls in his tongue and closes his mouth. He moves the Alaskan malamute around. He’s not getting a lot of flavor. Shrugging, Dexter tilts his head back and swallows. The pit bull sighs. He didn’t enjoy it as much as he did. He’ll stick to Growther for now. The teenager spends the rest of his day chatting with his fans, and making a video.

9

	On Monday, Nick decides to put his project to the side and help Charlie with his case. The first thing he does is see how many of the missing saw an ad online. Everybody he calls either sends him what he needs, they tell him yes but they didn’t save it, or a flat out no. He places the files to those who didn’t respond to an ad to the side. The human spends the next hour reading what was sent to him, and writes a couple of notes. Ninety percent of the ads ask for somebody to call a number to set up a meeting place. All he has to do is find one.
	Tuesday and Wednesday are repeat. Nick rides in with his partners, looks up information for several cases and go over ideas with Retna and Linda. They agree to see if any FBI, CIA and other agents will help them test Growther. The computer expert has the information he needs from his partners, but he wouldn’t mind having other species try it. Growing four to six feet seems to be the average regardless of their height. He’s not sure if weight plays a role in how tall somebody grows.
	Nick goes over a plan with Charlie, Steele and Slash when they happen to come across an ad like the ones the missing respond to.  The German shepherd volunteers to be the one to make the call and meet the person. By lunch they agree on a main and a couple of back up plans. Nick returns to his computer and asks everybody to look for ads. He glances up when Gloria clears her throat.
	“May I ask you a few questions? It’s about making arrests and what not when it comes to our type of suspects,” she asks.
	“Sure. What’s on your mind?”
	“Has things changed throughout the years? I mean I get this feeling like things were rather hard from the beginning.”
	“They were. We have very little evidence to work with, and if we did happen to collect a good amount, a judge would still deny us a search warrant. Now that voreaphiles are becoming more known, judges are becoming a little more lenient. Hell, a small number went as far as to tell us to set up the possible suspect. Catching them in the act is risky as hell, but there’s times it’s the only thing to do. Kind of like now,” Nick said. “Does that answer your question?”
	“Sort of. Actually, no, I take that last statement back. It does. It’s an answer I should’ve known.”
	“Don’t worry about it. We’ve all been there.”
	“I’m pretty certain of that,” the silver fox said. “You say it’s risky. How many agents didn’t make it?”
	“Quite a bit. The suspects either caught on, which sadly was the case with David and Vista, or the agents weren’t fast enough to rescue their partners. There’s more, but those are usually the main ones.”
	“I see. As for this training you want us to do, is that why we’re to go through with it?”
	“Yes. I just wish it didn’t take us this long to agree to have something made.”
	“Better late than never seems to be common phrase,” Gloria said. “How’d Balto escape and what he’d tell everybody?”
	“That was luck, and to stay relaxed. It’s extremely hard to do so in that kind of situation, but staying calm does play a role.”
	“We’ve heard about your close call in Spokane. Who’d thought a stomach could stretch that far?”
	“That’s for damn sure.”
	“One other question: when you, Steele and Slash leaving?”
	“The first Saturday in August for sure. I can’t push it back any farther. I don’t know what we’ll find though.”
	“Good luck and safe trip.”
	“Thanks. We’ll need it.”
	At a quarter past two Nick informs Charlie he found an ad, and listens to him make the phone call. The German shepherd is to meet a pit bull named Dexter at a grocery store by a gas station at two this coming Friday. Both agents know where that’s at. Nick and Charlie drive by the place after work to see if anything changed. Only thing different are the names to the store and gas station. They return home and make a couple of minor changes to their plans.

10

	There’s something fishy about the German shepherd, but Dexter can’t quite put his finger on it. He caught the canine looking at something when he walked into the store, but didn’t bother to ask what after introductions. The name Charlie rings a bell, but he doesn’t remember where he heard it. It’s something he’ll look into when he’s back to his normal height. The pit bull unlocks his pickup, and watches the German shepherd climb in. There’s something up with him all right.
	Charlie makes sure the bug works, and looks up when somebody clears their throat. It takes him a couple of seconds to realize it’s who he’s to meet. The German shepherd shakes the pit bull’s hand and introduces himself. He stops himself from gulping nervously. Dexter’s at least six feet inches shorter, but his body is rather huge with muscle. If they had a description of what the suspect looks like, he’s certain Steele would’ve agreed to meet him. Charlie follows the pit bull to his truck. From here on out his life is in his partners’ hands.
	The German shepherd follows Dexter up a small flight of stairs, and looks over his shoulder. He spots a light blue car stopping at a red light several blocks down the road. Charlie cringes. It’ll be a miracle if Dexter doesn’t see it as well. He walks into the house and looks around. It’s rather spacious for something that looks small from the outside. The agent hears a faint click, and turns his head in time to see a fist fly towards him.
	Dexter allows the German shepherd to enter his house, and closes the door behind him. Whoever Charlie seems to be looking for won’t arrive in time to save him. The pit bull locks the deadbolt, and connects with a swift right hook. He catches the German shepherd with ease, and drags him to his bedroom. This time he won’t make a video. He tosses Charlie onto his bed, rolls him onto his back and takes a deep breath. Unlike several times before, he won’t be taking his time.
	Dexter guzzles a bottle of Growther, and kneels over the German shepherd. Shame he doesn’t have the time to do what he wants. The pit bull’s feet hang over the edge of his bed once he’s done growing. He runs his tongue up Charlie’s chest and over his face, and licks his lips. A taste he’s bound to enjoy despite his prey being fully clothed. He opens his mouth as wide as he can and shoves the German shepherd’s head inside. Dexter swallows a third of his victim in two massive gulps, and wonders if he can devour the rest in less than ten.
	Charlie shakes his head as Dexter’s tongue glides over his face and opens his eyes. He’d have to be an idiot if he didn’t expect this to happen. The German shepherd stares into the pit bull’s throat. His heart rate increases. He closes his eyes and takes several deep breaths. He needs to stay calm if he’s to have a chance at forcing the suspect to throw up. Charlie slows his breathing and clears his mind as his head enters the pit bull’s stomach.
	Charlie cringes at how thick the purple ooze is. There isn’t a lot, but it’s enough to make things a bit more difficult. At least the space isn’t tight. The German shepherd shifts his legs around, and clenches his teeth as he moves his body. He’ll know when he’s in an upright position, or it’s what he remembers Balto telling him. Charlie looks around. It appears his blood isn’t rushing into his head anymore. The agent pokes around for the muscular ring and holds his breath when he finds it.
	Dexter gulps down the German shepherd’s feet and licks his lips happily. Nine gulps. Next time he’ll try for eight. The pit bull sits on his butt, places his hands on his stomach and stretches his legs. Charlie looks like a push over, but he’s putting up a decent struggle. The pit bull opens his eyes when he hears a couple of loud pops followed by a bang. Dexter climbs out of bed. The German shepherd may receive some company. He takes a step forward, and drops to his knees while clutching his stomach. A minute later his meal is on the floor covered in a purple ooze.
	“You stupid motherfucker,” the pit bull growls between breaths. “You should’ve just stayed where I sent your ass. I really didn’t want to use my last bottle of Unengrowther on the likes of you, you asshole.”

***

	Nick jumps out of the car before Steele puts it into park, and jumps up the stairs. It took too damn long to drive a couple of blocks. He checks the door. Locked. He pulls out his gun, motions for Steele and Slash to stop and shoots out the locks. The Alaskan malamute kicks down the door. The agents rush into the house with their guns drawn. Nick and Steele find their suspect kneeling over Charlie.
	“Get off,” Nick yells.
	“Try and make me.”
	Steele cocks his gun. “Don’t fuck around with us.”
	The pit bull staggers to his feet and stares at the agents. They won’t do a damn thing. He sneers as he raises his foot over Charlie’s head. A tingling sensation runs up his nerves. Confused, Dexter looks over his hands. He’s not to shrink this soon. He puts his down and looks at the agents. Dexter raises his hands and follows the Alaskan malamute to the living room. He growls. He can easily take them all if they didn’t have any guns.
	Nick asks Slash to call Nate and Balto and kneels beside Charlie. He’s alive. The human cleans his partner’s face, and helps him sit.
	“It worked,” Charlie mumbles, drying his ears. “Staying calm works.”

11

	Charlie takes off his last article of clothing and steps into the shower. Nick joins him a couple of seconds later. The German shepherd closes his eyes and splashes water over his face. He and his partner wiped most of the gunk at Dexter’s house. He looks over his body, and notices trace amounts of crusty stuff in small patches. A small amount of shampoo should do the trick. He nods when Nick tells him how his back looks.
	“There’s something I have to asks,” the canine said. “Where do we stand?”
	“We’re still friends, or I wouldn’t be doing this, but it doesn’t mean I forgive you,” Nick said. “I also don’t blame you. Like I told Steele, I kind of figured you guys would start to crack with the amount of close calls you had.”
	“Funny you should say that. Look at how often you take that trip, and you haven’t gone crazy.”
	“It isn’t easy doing it, but knowing I won’t die helps. Plus painting and grooming you guys help. A lot.”
	“I keep forgetting you enjoy this.”
	“It’s a good way to relax,” Nick said. “Besides, we’ve been through too damn much to have one thing ruin things.”
	“Yeah, that’s true,” Charlie looks over his shoulder. “Hey, how long have we known each other?”
	“Close to eight years, maybe nine. I’m not sure.”
	The German shepherd whistles. “We have been through a lot in a short time, and to think we almost lost you. I still have nightmares about that night. I keep hearing what you said and Carface’s laugh.”
	“Same here. Months after what happened were horrible. I’d wake up wanting to see if you were okay, but there was no way to contact you.”
	“It was nice to hear your voice the first time I called you,” Charlie said. “Are you still having nightmares about Jasper?”
	“Occasionally, but they’re not as bad as before. I no longer wake up having to see Steele, or have the urge to make sure he’s okay.”
	“That’s good to hear,” the German shepherd said, rinsing off the shampoo. “Were you able to get a hold of Dexter’s parents?”
	“I did, and his dad pretty much told me to throw the book at his ass. Both him and his wife are disgusted at what Dexter been doing.”
	“Good. It’s good to hear parents wanting their kids to pay for their crimes. Or some, anyway.”
	“I hear you.”
	“What’re the plans for tomorrow?”
	“Tomorrow a grizzly bear named William will meet us at the warehouse. I asked Gloria and Cadaveria to look through Dexter’s computer.”
	“So it’s back to the same old, same old.”
	“Sounds like it, doesn’t it?”
	Charlie turns off the water and looks at the tub. He tells Nick he’ll clean it after he takes a nap. He puts on a pair of boxers, and crawls into bed. When he wakes up he’ll make a couple of phone calls, and discuss with Nick what case they should tackle next. The German shepherd yawns and falls into a deep sleep.