[nostatic]

Ok, I'll try to make a long story short. Ex-wife has two dogs. Well, *had* two dogs. One of them (Boston Terrier with distinctive one blue eye, one brown) liked to get out an take itself for a walk. Dog has tags with her cell phone number and is microchipped. Has gotten out quite a few times, she's gotten calls from neighbors, then picks up the dog. Dog is very friendly.

So painters are at the house working and dog gets out. She notices, goes looking. Can't find him. Gets really distraught. Puts up posters. Gets a call from a woman who pretends to have the dog, then threatens to call the police because she put up illegal posters. That is a side rant...freakin' jerkoff old woman.

Anywho, there is a house renovation going on around the corner from her house. A few days after the dog went missing one of the construction workers told her that one of the other workers took the dog home with him. First worker is worried that he'll get in trouble for ratting out someone so is being cagey about who/where this guy is - evidently lives in the valley. Ex-wife contacts contractor and he says he'll get to the bottom of it. That was beginning of the week. First worker contacts her again and says he'll show her where the guy lives but he doesn't know the address. He wants her to follow him out to the valley, stop a block or so away from the guys house, point it out, then she's on her own. Of course I won't let her do that, and I volunteered to at least find where the guy lives and get some evidence that he's got the dog (photos).

So that's where we stand. Ex indicated there was a reward for return of the dog, so first worker probably wants the reward money, but I told her he gets nothing until the dog is back. This should be a gig for the police but doubt it'll get much traction. I figured if the setup was decent I'd just bring an ex spec-ops buddy with me and we'd retrieve the dog.

So what's the best COA here?