Some time passed as the other pups discussed their thoughts on Chase, while Zuma and Rubble skipped out on not saying anything, Marshall was called up. He had some things he wanted to air out.

"So, Marshall, how do you feel about Chase since the others decided not to talk about it?" Agent Rich asked.

"I can't blame them, they're not ready to talk about it but I am. Can't believe he didn't tell us anything. The fact that he lied to us and said it was over, he knew we would've helped him with whatever he was going through! That's who we are, we're a family!" Marshall yelled out as he started to calm down slightly. "I guess that didn't matter to him." Marshall said as he lowered his ears.

"Ever since you met him, how would you describe him?" Agent Ruch asked.

"He's a coward, but he always was a defiant pup, always wanting to finish things. He was too full of himself to realize it from time to time." Marshall stated.

Ryder looked on with worry, his once friendly Dalmatian pup was now angry for once and he couldn't really blame him. As the Dalmatian kept ranting on, Agent Ramirez finally came back in with the report he needed.

"Rich, our insider got us some solid evidence, come on back and I'll show you." Ramirez ordered through the comm.

"You heard him, I don't want to talk about Chase anymore." Marshall wanted to brush off the Shepherd but it really wasn't possible.

"Well, that's all we're going to talk about for awhile." Agent Rich assured as he opened the door to let the fire pup go back to his team.

Marshall gathered back with Ryder and the others as Agent Rich was handed a folder by Ramirez.

"Check it out, our insider confirmed that Chase is in Boroughton, he most likely got there earlier today." Ramirez pointed out.

"Well, we already knew that, Ramirez. Our insider specify on how–?" Ryder cut Rich off.

"Wait, let me get this straight. You already knew Chase was in Boroughton but rather than telling us, you wanted to know how we felt about him?" Ryder asked, infuriated. He gave the agents a stern look as he began assuming. "Is there something you don't want us to know?"

"It's not like that." Agent Rich sighed as he rubbed his forehead in annoyance. "We just wanted to know if you and your pups are still going to go along with this whole thing."

"Of course we are! We're not giving up on him!" Ryder stated.

"I wouldn't be so sure about that." Ramirez remarked.

"You and your pups don't realize how dangerous this is, how dangerous Chase is. I didn't tell you this because it wouldn't be right to let a kid and his five little band of pups be involved in a case as bad as this." Agent Rich explained.

"Yeah, no offense or anything but your little band of pups are kind of ridiculous. I mean, herding sheep, saving chickens, saving a friendship party?" Agent Ramirez questioned as he stood by Rich's side. "That's nothing compared to what we have to deal with."

"I think we're smart enough to figure that out considering you're the FBI!" Ryder sarcastically stated. "Just because we do those things doesn't mean we don't know the severity that you have to deal with. Also let me ask you this, aren't you the one who said you'll shut us down if we didn't help?" Ryder asked.

"When we said that, it just meant for interrogation, not actual involvement." Agent Rich replied as he crossed his arms.

"Well it doesn't matter, we're not giving up on Chase." Ryder assured as the pups stood by him.

"Alrighty, mates, just calm down and let's discuss a plan. It's not gonna help if we're arguing constantly." Decker defused.

"Ok, look. If we're going to do this with your involvement, you're going to need to listen to us, got it?" Agent Rich asked as he cleared out a nearby table as Ryder nodded at the agent. "Our insider confirmed that Chase is in Boroughton but exactly where is the question, our insider couldn't specifically say where they were due to the fact that they want remain undercover." Agent Rich grabbed a marker and started highlighting the map of Boroughton. "With that in mind, we're going to have to search it top to bottom. Get some rest, all of you, it's going to be a long day tomorrow. Decker, show them to to their beds." Agent Ramirez couldn't help but realize that Rich's planning would potentially screw things up for them. With that in mind, he pulled the agent aside as Decker and the pups left the room.

"Are you kidding me? Those pups are only going to slow us down!" Ramirez stated.

"You already agreed to this, we don't have time to argue." Rich sat down at the nearby table and started looking through the folders about the investigation. "Things are slowly closing Ramirez, we don't have a better chance than now and those pups will help us out because they're involved as much as we are. The more involved they are, the quicker we find Chase, the quicker we find Chase, the quicker we know who he was working for, we get him, arrest them and go home."

"Alright, alright I can take a fucking hint." Agent Ramirez eased.

"Good, get some rest, I'm going to look through some of these folders." Agent Rich gestured for the agent to leave. As the agent scanned through the folders, he noticed one tucked under some of the piles, he was sure he checked them before but he read through that one to see what it was.

"Oh no, no, no." Agent Rich kept on reading.

The folder had a small article in it with the title that read...

"Double Homicide At Pet Shelter! Two bodies found dead, witnesses report a German Shepherd leaving with a suspicious looking man in the building just moments after the homicides occurred."

Rich realized that he, Ryder, and the pups had to come to certain terms one way or another.

<><><><>

Chase gave a stern look at the man who he used to work for. He remembered the formal dress code he followed as well as the massive scar that ran across the left side of his face

"I presume you have something I want?" The man asked.

Chase nodded as he handed the pendant to Ajax, who then handed it to the man.

"You finally got what you wanted, we're done here." Chase declared as he turned around, glaring at Ajax as the Great Dane smiled at him.

The man examined the pendant and placed it in a small case, setting it aside and bringing out his pistol, aiming it at the Shepherd.

"Things are not going to work out quite that way, Chase."

Chase knew that things weren't going to be that easy, at least he tried. The Shepherd sighed as he turned around to face the man.

"You must think I'm some idiot to think you were going to just hand over the pendant and go." The man said.

"I was never one to shy away from a calculated risk, Alistair." Chase stated as he stood his ground.

"Is that right?" Alistair questioned as he set his pistol down, sitting down shortly after. "You see, I'm a little pissed about being betrayed by one of my own. It wouldn't be right to just let you go after what you and your psycho friends did. So here's what you're going to do from now on until you drop dead. You're going to work for me again, do what I say, when I say it and maybe, just maybe, I won't skin you alive." Alistair explained as he took a sip from his drink, gesturing for the Shepherd to leave as Ajax followed. "Oh, one more thing, Chase." Alistair stopped the Shepherd, hitting him with one more threat. "Don't try to leave Boroughton again, I got eyes everywhere. You try leaving again and your friends over in Adventure Bay are going to pay dearly for it."

Chase gave a nod to Alistair, leaving the suite-like room and following Ajax.

"So that went well, wouldn't you agree?" Ajax sarcastically asked.

"Just tell me what I have to do, I don't want to spend another minute with a snake like you." Chase insulted as the two stopped, gandering a look at the busy marketplace.

"I'm the snake? Says the one stole from the boss and left." Ajax retorted. "You're lucky he didn't kill you right then and there."

"Whatever, what do I have to do?" Chase asked.

"You're running with Mavis's crew, doing jobs with them. It's more or less Avery's crew but she keeps them in check. They're sort of new to this but that shouldn't be a problem for you right?" Ajax asked.

"Great, can't wait." Chase sarcastically stated as he left, leaving the Great Dane to his lonesome.

Chase passed by the busy marketplace, trying to not bump into the other dogs that inhabited the area. The Shepherd saw Avery's office and proceeded towards it, hoping the Greyhound was there.

"Avery? You in there?" Chase called as he sat nearby waiting for an answer.

"Yeah! Just hang on a minute!" Avery advised.

As the Shepherd sighed, taking in his new but old surroundings, he began to ponder on how he was going to execute his whole plan.

How was he going to take down Alistair and Ajax? Anyone else finds out, he's as good as dead.

The pup started thinking of numerous situations that could work out but as he was thinking, he heard a loud crash inside Avery's office. The Shepherd immediately rushed inside to see what had happened.

Avery was on the ground, rubbing his head from what Chase presumed impacting the floor.

"Avery, are you alright?" Chase asked as he helped the Greyhound recover.

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine." Avery sighed as he glanced at the box he was trying to put away. "Mavis and the others went out on that job already, I presume that the meeting with you-know-who went well?" Avery asked as he began placing the items back in the box.

"About as well as can be expected." Chase replied as he helped the Greyhound with the box. "Mind if I ask you something?"

"Yeah, go ahead." Avery nodded.

"He said I was 'the pup who caused him so much trouble'. Any idea on what he meant by that?" Chase asked as Avery released his paws from the box, letting out a sigh.

"From what I can understand, that pendant was supposed to be something to square things up with some rivals he had been dealing with at the time. After you, Diaz, and Isaac stole it from him and left, this place fell apart." Avery explained.

"If it fell apart, then how come he's still operating here?" Chase asked yet again.

"I don't know how he still kept everything under control. After what happened with you and the others, all the dogs were at each other's throats." Avery answered. "But yeah, most of what happened was because of you, and it's like I said earlier, it's better that no one knows who you are."

Chase didn't give an answer to the Greyhound, he just had to take it all in.

"All this serious talk, I forgot to give you this." Avery walked to his small desk and handed Chase a collar. "A while back, after what happened, I went to your room and found this. I'm not sure if you want it but I think he would want you to have it." Avery smiled.

Chase examined the red and white spiked collar, remembering who it belonged to.

"I'm good." Chase said as he lowered his ears.

"You sure? I mean it would—." Chase cut the Greyhound off.

"I said I'm good." Chase sternly stated as he sighed.

"Right, sorry." Avery apologized as he put the collar back in his desk. "Mavis and the others should be finished with that job, I'll check in." Avery pressed his pup tag.

Chase was confused, how did they have access to something as high tech as that?

"Mav, come in. It's Avery." The Greyhound called in.

"Loud and clear, Avery! What's up?" The Retriever asked through the tag.

"How's the job going so far? I need you back here soon, gotta get accustomed to Isaac since he'll be working with you and the others." Avery said as he was fixing things up around his office.

"We're on our way back, simple drop off with no problems! Come on you three!" Mavis ordered. "We'll be back in thirty! Promise!"

With that, Mavis ended the call with Avery as Chase began to ask some more questions.

"So what's up with that tech? I know we've never had it before." Chase asked.

"You like it? Custom pup tag, almost everyone has it. That reminds me, when Mavis arrives and you head out on your first job, I'll get one made personally for you, if you want." Avery offered.

"I think I'm good, by the way, where'd you put my bag?" Chase asked, looking around.

"Don't worry, I hid it from the others, as much as I trust them, they're still liars, cheaters, and thieves. Nothings gonna change that." Avery stated as he got Chase's bag out, giving it some thought but brushing it off shortly after. "Here ya go, bud."

Chase opened the small bag, getting out the small snack packs, passing one to Avery.

"It's gonna be awhile." Chase smiled.

"Knowing Mav, she's not going to be back in thirty minutes." Avery chuckled.

The two sat close to each other, eating the snacks as Avery's eyes slowly gazed into the bag, noticing the picture inside.

He couldn't make out exactly who was on it, he just noticed some of the pup's lower half.

"So that's your new family huh?" Avery asked in a slightly upset tone.

Chase immediately froze, looking at Avery as he closed his bag.

"Relax, I'm not going to do anything. I just asked a simple question." Avery assured as he continued eating.

"Yeah..." Chase calmed down as he sat back down. "They're the ones that Alistair will hurt if I end up leaving."

"He threatened you again? You did give him the pendant right?" Avery asked.

"Yeah, I had a feeling it wasn't going to end the way I wanted it to." Chase answered.

"You can say that about almost anything we went through." Avery said as he finished his small snack.

"I guess." The two sighed as time went on waiting for Mavis and the rest to come back.

"You can rest up over there, by the time they get here, it's gonna get dark." Avery pointed out as he lied down.

"Alright, thanks again Avery." Chase smiled as he lied down, dragging his bag close to him.

"Anytime." Avery smiled as the two went off into their slumber.

That thirty minutes that Mavis promised turned into two hours as the Retriever and her group finally made it back to the Den.

"Man, I'm beat!" Levi stated as the Alaskan Malamute let out a yawn, slowly hitting the other dogs shortly after.

"Yeah me too, maybe it wouldn't have taken this long if someone didn't get lost!" Nashi teased as Delta laughed at the remark.

"Hey! I'm sorry all these alleyways look the same! I didn't hear you complaining until we took a fourth turn." Mavis shot back.

"Ease up, I'm just teasing." Nashi replied, defusing the situation.

"Sometimes it's kind of hard to tell, what with you being a husky and all." Mavis smiled.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Nashi took offense as he turned the Retriever around.

"Hey! Take it easy!" Delta calmed as he got some between the two.

"Yeah, I didn't mean nothing by it, I was just teasing just like you were." Mavis turned back as she defused the situation.

"Can't say I didn't deserve that." Nashi laughed as the group went on to Avery's office.

As Mavis and the others reached Avery's office, she noticed the light was out, indicating that the office was closed for the night.

"Can't say I'm surprised it's closed." Levi spoke as the group sighed.

"Took one wrong turn and we end up getting lost." Mavis said.

"We took about four though." Levi replied, receiving a glare from Mavis shortly after.

"Just forget it, come on, let's head back to our room and just come back in the morning." Delta assured as he led the group on.

"Lead the way." Levi gestured as Nashi and Mavis followed.

As the dogs passed by many of the vendors and other contractors that occupied the Den at night, they were stopped by a couple of dogs, who stopped them in a friendly manner.

"Hey there! Wonderful night isn't it?" The dog said.

"It was until we got stopped." Nashi replied.

"Look, I don't want whatever you're selling, come on guys." Mavis walked past the dog who got back in front of her, intentionally blocking her.

"We don't want whatever you're selling and we don't want any trouble." Levi defused.

"Unless y'all do." Nashi threatened.

"Nothing like that, everyone just ease up." The dog reached into his satchel and pulled out a flyer. "Our contractor Owens is having a little celebration. Just a little get together for everyone here to ease off and take a break from what goes on out there outside of the Den." Mavis grabbed the flyer and examined it.

"We already have these things happening anyway, what makes this so different?" Delta asked as he glanced over at the flyer.

"Just that it's happening earlier than usual, see it as an excuse for a free day, no jobs or anything like that." The dog tried persuading.

"Eh, I was never a fan of these things so I'm gonna pass." Mavis declined the offer.

"Yeah, I think that goes for all of us." Levi said in an apologetic tone.

"Well, if you ever change your mind, the doors open for you guys on Friday." The dog nodded at the group as they went on to talk to other dogs about the little celebratory party.

The group went on and eventually made it to their room, locking the door and laying down in their beds, exhausted from the long walk they had to endure.

"Sweet, sweet, fluff!" Levi curled up on his little bed, feeling as if he found the most comfiest bed to ever exist.

"Good night, you guys. See you in the morning." Mavis yawned as she took off her pup tag and set it underneath her bed.

"You think Avery's gonna be ticked off since we got here late?" Levi asked.

"Nah, if anything, he should be happy that he caught up with Isaac." Mavis replied.

"Yeah...Isaac, I'm not sure about him." Nashi proclaimed.

"You always have a problem with new recruits." Delta added as he shuffled around in his bed.

"Give him a chance, he can handle himself, I've seen it." Mavis defended the Shepherd.

"We'll see how this job goes then I'll decide on giving him a chance." Nashi stated as he and the other closed their eyes.

The dogs soon fell to their slumber as the night was over, wandering off into dreams of their own and waiting for a new day to start.

<><><><>

Hope you all enjoyed chapter 3! A little shoutout to the creators of the OC's featured in this story!

Phoenix_647 - Mavis

WaveTempest -Nashi

AspiringChrono -Levi

The_Charismatic -Delta

See you all in the next chapter!