“I cried myself to sleep that     
night, and I think for a week after    
that,” she said as a small tear came to
her eye, and she wiped it away, “and it
just got weirder and eviler, because   
the reason she was put down, wasn’t    
because they really had to, but just in
case.                                  
     “All they’d tell Barry was that   
the dog had to be put down just in     
case. Zero-tolerance,” she said        
quietly.                               
     “A young girl had been mauled to  
death,” Beth continued after I wiped   
her eyes with a tissue, and she smiled 
at me a little, “and the evidence      
pointed to one of our patients. I don't
even remember his fucking name now, but
I remembered Shuffles.                 
     “She was the gentlest and most    
* kindest, and always made sure to rub     
her head against mine, whenever she got
the chance.                            
     “I couldn't believe she was       
capable of hurting anyone, never mind  
mauling someone to death. I just didn't
see it.                                
     “Come to find out,” Beth said     
after taking a deep breath, “a week    
later, after the owner had already     
told the cops the dog did it, and they 
had already put the dog to sleep just  
in case the owner wasn't lying, they   
found out who the real killer was, and 
it was Shuffle's owner.                
     “Shuffles was innocent and didn't 
want to die. It's the only thing that  
really explains why she was so hard to 
handle just before we put her to sleep.



CHAPTER 6: SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25th
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