On a peaceful winter evening in Arlington, Virginia, Marty Singer’s neighbors are frantically searching for their young son, Kip. Also missing is the family’s loyal dog, Barkley, an eater of garbage and bane of Marty’s existence.

But this time, they’re on the same side as they separately hunt for the missing boy–and the search becomes desperate when it becomes obvious they’re not the only ones looking for him…

The Guardian is an original novella featuring retired DC homicide detective Marty Singer. The story takes place after the events in the novel The Wicked Flee (Marty Singer #5).