“Hand me those leashes right now, because I’m not going to ask you again.”
“My dogs are calm, Sergeant, and you have absolutely no reason to take them.”
“Keep arguing with me and I’ll have both dogs removed before you leave here.”
“You stopped me without any cause, so don’t touch me or either of my dogs.”
Mercer stepped closer and reached toward Nia as the other two officers moved in, surrounding her from every side. She stayed calm while Rex and Nova stood silently beside her, watching and waiting for her command. Mercer thought he had cornered an ordinary woman with two troublesome dogs. He had no idea the two animals beside her were highly trained military canines.
Nia Brooks kept her pace steady as she walked along Maple Street. The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the quiet suburban sidewalk. Rex and Nova moved beside her on short leashes, their black-and-tan coats gleaming in the light. Both Belgian Malinois stayed in perfect formation, Rex on her left, Nova on her right. Their ears were alert but relaxed. Their muscles moved with the smooth precision that came from years of military training. The neighborhood felt peaceful. Kids played in front yards while parents watered gardens. A few people waved from their porches. Nia nodded back but kept walking. She had left the military housing area twenty minutes ago. Her small apartment was only three blocks away now.
The patrol cruiser appeared without warning. It rolled up slowly beside her, engine purring. The white-and-blue Crown Victoria matched her walking speed for several seconds before stopping completely. Three doors opened at once. Sergeant Wade Mercer stepped out first. He was a thick man with graying hair and small, sharp eyes. His uniform stretched tight across his chest. He planted his feet wide on the asphalt and pointed directly at Nia. “Ma’am, I need you to stop right there.”