Chapter 3 - THE LONGEST EIGHT MINUTES
“Titan!”
I hit his side with my palm.
Nothing.
“Come on!”
His chest moved.
Barely.
One shallow breath.
Then another.
We reached North Sound Veterinary Emergency in eight minutes.
It felt like an hour.
Two technicians were waiting outside with a stretcher.
“Belgian Malinois, approximately ninety pounds,” I said as they transferred him. “Possible rattlesnake envenomation. Bite to right front leg. Maybe fifteen minutes ago.”
A veterinarian in navy scrubs ran beside us.
“Any vomiting?”
“No.”
“Neurological signs?”
“Weakness. Tremors. Respiratory slowing.”
“Any known allergies?”
“No.”
The doors swung closed behind them.
And suddenly I was standing alone.
I looked down.
Titan’s leash was still wrapped around my hand.
There was blood on it.
Mine or his.
I couldn’t tell.
Marcus came through the doors a minute later.
“You okay?”
“No.”
He nodded.
“Good answer.”
I sank into a plastic chair.
My hands wouldn’t stop shaking.
Marcus sat beside me.
“You know what everyone’s saying, right?”
“What?”
“That Titan saved that girl.”
“I should’ve seen the snake.”
Marcus looked at me.
“From twenty yards away through leaves?”
“He saw it.”
“He has a nose you don’t.”
“He ignored a direct command.”
“To save a child.”
I rubbed both hands over my face.
“You know how review boards work. They won’t start with what he saved. They’ll start with why he broke control.”
Marcus said nothing.
Because we both knew I was right.
K9 units survived on trust.
Public trust.
Department trust.
Handler control.
Titan had knocked a child to the ground and restrained her.
There would be videos.
Dozens.
And videos rarely came with context.
My phone buzzed.
Then buzzed again.
And again.
Marcus glanced toward it.
“You might want to turn that off.”
I looked.
Thirty-two notifications.
One message from my lieutenant.
CALL ME ASAP.
Another from my wife, Rachel.
JACK, WHAT HAPPENED? SOMEONE SENT ME A VIDEO.
I opened social media.
That was a mistake.
The first clip had already been viewed more than fifty thousand times.
It showed Titan sprinting across the park.
Emily turning.
Titan slamming into her.
Then the video stopped.
No snake.
No explanation.
The caption read:
SEATTLE POLICE DOG ATTACKS LITTLE GIRL IN PARK.
My stomach twisted.
Comments were pouring in.
That animal should be destroyed.
Sue the department.
Why was an attack dog loose around children?
Fire the handler.
I locked the phone.
Marcus muttered, “People are idiots.”
“They’re seeing what the video shows.”
“They’re seeing half of it.”
“That’s enough online.”
The veterinary doors opened.
I stood instantly.
The doctor walked toward me.
Her expression gave away nothing.
“Officer?”
“Jack Mercer.”
“I’m Dr. Patel.”
“How is he?”
“He was envenomated.”
My throat tightened.
“We administered antivenom and fluids. His blood pressure dropped significantly during treatment.”
“But?”
She paused.
“He’s alive.”
I closed my eyes.
“Thank God.”
“But he’s not stable.”
I opened them again.
“What does that mean?”
“It means the next several hours are critical.”
Before I could answer, my phone rang.
Lieutenant Harris.
I picked up.
“Harris.”
His voice was controlled.
Too controlled.
“Jack, Internal Affairs is opening a use-of-force review involving Titan.”
I stared through the glass doors toward the treatment room.
“He saved the kid.”
“I know.”
“Then why—”
“Because the video is everywhere.”
I clenched my jaw.
Harris continued.
“And there’s something else.”
“What?”
“The girl’s father just arrived at the park.”
“So?”
“He’s an attorney.”
I closed my eyes.
Harris finished quietly.
May you like
“And he says he intends to sue the city.”
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