Case Files
Evanjeline Cooper
Status: Owner/Master Groomer
Primary Tool: Precision Shears & Unfiltered Truth
Profile: The steady hand at the center of the storm. Evanjeline isn't just a groomer; she is a translator. While she navigates the physical world with the discipline of a master craftswoman, she carries a burden no one else in Hillsdale can see. She doesn't just "read" dogs; she hears their exact words.
To the town, she is the woman who stands her ground against the likes of Jed McNally. To the dogs, she is their only advocate in a world of human noise. She knows that secrets are like matted fur; they have to be worked through carefully, or someone is going to get hurt.
Evangeline Chase
Status: The Confidante / Grounding Force
Profile: In a world where Evanjeline is constantly bombarded by the conversations of the dogs and the knowledge from the dead, Angie is the one person who offers a different kind of clarity. She isn't just a presence in the salon; she is the guardian of the "normal" world.
Angie sees the woman behind the magic. She understands the toll the gift takes and provides the sanctuary Evanjeline needs to keep her own head above water. While she may not hear the whispers from G or Cricket, Angie’s intuition about people is just as sharp as any supernatural gift. She is the first to notice when a customer is acting strange or when the tension in Hillsdale is reaching a breaking point.
In the high-stakes chess match between Evanjeline and the Hillsdale PD, Angie is the one person Evanjeline doesn't have to translate for.
"Everyone needs someone who knows the truth without them having to say a word. For Evanjeline, that someone is Angie."
Officer Tyler Griffin
Status: The Grounded Ally / The Protective Liaison
Location: Hillsdale, MA
Profile: Tyler is a stabilizing force in Evanjeline’s life, a rare connection to her world before the shadows of her gift began to consume so much space. As a rising officer with the local PD, he provides a vital tether to the world of law and order. While the rest of the department respects Evanjeline as a skilled business owner and a helpful witness in difficult cases, Tyler is the only one who looks at her with the genuine concern of an old friend who knows the woman behind the professional mask.
Tyler walks a professional tightrope, balancing his duties to the badge with a deep, personal loyalty to Evanjeline. He is the man who provides official updates, quiet warnings, and the tactical support she needs to navigate the complexities of an investigation safely. Though he relies on cold facts and hard evidence, he trusts her instincts implicitly, stepping in as her protector whenever the physical world becomes too dangerous for her to handle alone.
"Tyler doesn’t just uphold the law; he carries the weight of it, hoping it’s enough to keep the people he cares about safe."
Maeve Durnin
Status: Master Groomer / Owner, Queens Salon
Origin: Ireland
Profile: Maeve is the steel to Evanjeline’s silk. A Master Groomer who brought her sharp shears and sharper wit across the Atlantic, she now runs one of the most respected high-traffic salons in Queens, NY.
Maeve speaks a language of two worlds: the melodic, rolling lilt of her Irish upbringing and the fast-paced, no-nonsense dialect of a New York business owner. She is an absolute master of the craft, someone who understands that a monthly blade drive replacement isn't just a suggestion, it’s the difference between a professional and an amateur.
She is Evanjeline’s true peer and closest confidante. While they are separated by miles and different environments, they are bound by the same professional discipline and the shared weight of being women who see more than they let on. In the chaos of an investigation, Maeve’s voice, thick with an accent that feels like home even when she's being blunt, is the grounding force Evanjeline needs to remember who she is outside of the "Grooming Witch" title.
"If you can't say it plain, don't say it at all. But if you’re going to tell the truth, you might as well do it with a bit of a lilt."
Senior Officer Jed McNally
Status: Active Duty / Senior Investigator
Eyes: Ice-Blue
Known For: The "Fortress" (His impenetrable personal bubble)
Jed McNally doesn't just enter a room; he commands it. With a presence that feels like a cold front moving through, he is a man of few words and zero patience for shortcuts. He believes in the chain of command, the weight of physical evidence, and the safety of the boundaries he builds around himself.
While the rest of the station might get caught up in the local chatter, Jed remains focused on the facts he can see and touch. He is used to people backing away when he steps forward, but Evanjeline is the one variable he hasn't been able to calculate. She’s the only person in Hillsdale who isn't afraid to step inside his space to tell him exactly what he’s missing.
"McNally doesn't look for the truth; he expects it to surrender."