Chief was dumbfounded. Who had written that? The dog? But how was that possible? Dr. Yang had said that to him, but he had been the only one who had heard her say it. This was some sort of sign, it had to be. But what was the sign trying to tell him? In the back of his mind, a thought surfaced: Maybe this message was telling him that anything was possible, that he could get out of this life if he wanted to. 

Chief looked over at Joe; his face was backlit by the phone’s screen in the darkness. As incompetent as Joe was, maybe he really was meant to be here on this mission with him, and maybe he was meant to be on this mission not for the mission but for him. 

Chief shook his head. This was all too much. Was he losing his mind? Was all this time traveling making him go crazy? 

“Joe,” Chief said slowly, trying to decide if he should even bother asking such a ridiculous question. “You don’t really think that dog knows how to text, do you?” 

Page 224