Back at Bureau headquarters, Liz sat with Professor Broom and Abe in Broom's library as they poured through reference books.

"Well, as far as I can tell, it looks like a completely new shape shifting species." Abe closed the book he was reading, and sighed. "Bred specifically for the purpose of hunting prey."

"Yes, Abe. I tend to agree."

"And our breeder?" Abe asked Broom.

"So far, nothing paranormal about him. Just a psychopathic cannibal who happened to discover the new species, and decided to use them to his own advantage. First, he'd kill the breeders, and quickly introduce the species into their kennels. Hoping to go unnoticed at first, I guess he hoped to eventually pass the shape shifting gene into the general canine population. At least, that's all we can tell. For now."

"And the sheep?" Liz asked, slightly distracted. "Just in between feedings?" Broom and Abe shrugged, in noncommittal agreement.

"So, was this really the Chupacabra?" Liz hoped at least for some closure to the case.

"Well, we don't know," Abe chimed in. "The sightings are new, only within the past 20 years. Maybe this is what we've been hearing reports of - a new creature, unknown to humanity until now."

"Well, whatever they are, Liz, you have made a new discovery in the field of paranormal investigations." The professor looked at Liz, as she sat deep in thought.

"Still, it seems there are a lot of questions about this case that will no doubt remain unanswered..."

"I suppose so," Liz agreed, weakly.

"...Such as Hellboy's role." Broom introduced the new subject delicately. "Manning told me that you specifically requested that Hellboy come to your aid."

"That's what I told him," Liz confessed, her guilt transparent. Perhaps in a room without Abe, she might be able to pull off the lie. But with him sitting right beside her, everyone in the room realized it was all a charade.

"I told Manning he wouldn't have stolen a Bureau chopper if I hadn't asked him to."

"I see." Broom didn't look up at her. Instead, he leafed through the pages of some random book on his desk.

Although deception and falsifying reports was not something that Broom encouraged of his agents, it was fairly clear that this lie wasn't simply about helping Hellboy off the hook again. It was a pivotal point in their relationship, where both had committed to stand by each other's side, no matter what the consequences.

Come hell or high water, everyone in that room realized that Hellboy and Liz would forever be an inseparable team.