Part 1, Chapters 1 - 5 Summary

In Chapter 1, Jessica and David Wolde are woken by cries of pain from their Great Dane, Princess. David tells her they must call the vet immediately. When she reaches the vet on the phone, he warns her that the situation could be deadly, but asks them to meet him at his office. Jessica helps David load the dog into their van, and then stays home with their daughter, Kira, while he drives off. When David returns home, Jessica knows the dog had not lived. He crawls into bed with her and begins to cry.

In Chapter 2, Jessica had told David that she would be home early the following day from her job as an investigative reporter with the Miami Sun-News but realizes as she tries to complete an article that she might actually have to work late. The article...