Chapter 14 - THE DECISION
The department found that Titan’s actions were justified by an immediate threat.
Mine were another story.
I had violated administrative restrictions.
I had gone to Centennial Park during the investigation.
I had participated in the warehouse pursuit.
I had brought Titan to the Discovery Park search while the dog was medically restricted.
Every one of those decisions had helped solve the case.
Every one had also broken a rule.
Harris sat across from me.
“You understand why discipline is necessary.”
“Yes.”
“You sound angry.”
“I am.”
“You’d do it differently?”
I thought about it.
“No.”
He almost smiled.
“That is the wrong answer.”
“It’s the true one.”
Harris slid another document across the table.
“Thirty-day suspension.”
I nodded.
“Fine.”
“With pay.”
I looked up.
“What?”
“And mandatory remedial administrative policy training.”
I stared at him.
“You’re suspending me with pay?”
“Don’t make me regret being creative.”
I leaned back.
“What about K9 assignment?”
Harris became serious again.
“That depends on Titan.”
“Meaning?”
“The veterinary board has to clear him physically.”
“And if they don’t?”
“He retires.”
The word landed hard.
I knew Titan wouldn’t work forever.
K9 careers were short.
But I wasn’t ready.
Neither was he.
Three weeks later, Dr. Patel watched Titan trot across the rehabilitation yard.
No limp.
No hesitation.
She made him sit.
Stand.
Turn.
Climb a low platform.
Then she watched him run.
Titan flew across the grass like he’d never been injured.
She smiled.
“He’s ridiculous.”
I laughed.
“That’s his medical diagnosis?”
“Officially.”
Titan ran back to me.
Dr. Patel crouched and examined his shoulder one last time.
“The muscle healed beautifully.”
“So?”
She looked at me.
“Physically, I see no reason he can’t return to duty.”
I exhaled.
Titan barked.
“But.”
I frowned.
“There’s always a but.”
“He’s been through two major trauma events in a matter of days.”
“He’s fine.”
“You’re his partner. That makes you the least objective person in the room.”
Fair.
“So what do we do?”
“Behavioral reassessment.”
Titan stared at her.
She stared back.
“Tomorrow.”
The next morning, Titan underwent every test.
Gunfire.
Crowds.
Children.
Sudden movement.
Aggression control.
Recall.
Obedience.
He passed all of them.
Then came the final test.
An evaluator placed a realistic rubber snake beneath a pile of leaves.
Titan froze.
Every muscle in his body tightened.
The evaluator looked at me.
“Call him back.”
I swallowed.
“Titan. Heel.”
For one second, he stared at the snake.
My heart thudded.
Then he turned.
Walked directly to my left side.
Sat.
Perfectly.
The evaluator wrote something on her clipboard.
I waited.
Finally she looked up.
“K9 Titan is cleared for active service.”
I crouched and grabbed his face.
“You hear that?”
Titan licked my nose.
“Yeah, yeah.”
But the story wasn’t over.
Because when we returned to the station, Emily Carter was standing outside.
May you like
Holding a pink Frisbee.
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