You transmitted evidence of a crime across state lines. You documented obstruction. Age does not erase responsibility. Reed's knees buckled. The agent grabbed his arm and turned him around, locking his wrists with practiced ease.
Reed whimpered, My dad's going to kill me. The agent replied, Better your father than federal court. The crowd murmured, Shaken but unable to look away. Holy crap, they're actually doing it. This is real federal arrest protocol.
They're finished. Only Blake remained standing rigid, sweating, trying desperately to hold onto whatever scraps of arrogance he had left. His eyes darted toward Zuri, toward Shadow, toward Malik, toward the crowd. Everywhere he looked, his power evaporated. An agent stepped forward, Turn around.
Blake didn't move. The agent repeated, Turn around. Hands behind your back. Blake clenched his fists. No, you can't.
This is insane. You can't arrest me for a stupid dog. Malik stepped toward him, eyes cold as winter steel. That stupid dog saved more lives than you will ever comprehend. Blake swallowed hard, but held his ground.
I'm not turning around. The lead agent nodded once. Take him. Two agents moved in from the sides. Blake panicked.
No, no. Don't touch me. He shouted, trying to pull free. He swung his arm wildly, striking one of the agents across the chest. The gas station erupted in screams.
Did he just hit a federal agent? Oh my god, he's dead. He's literally dead. Before Blake could swing again, one agent grabbed his wrist, twisting it behind his back while the other swept his legs out from under him. Blake hit the ground face first with a thud that echoed across the concrete.
His scream tore through the air. Ow. Stop. That hurt. You resisted and assaulted a federal officer.
The agent said sharply. Stay still. Zip ties locked around his wrists with a loud click. For the first time, Blake looked like a child, terrified, confused, far smaller than the persona he'd worn all day. The crowd wasn't sympathetic.
Good. He deserves it. After what he did to Shadow, not enough. But one person wasn't celebrating. Officer Hemsworth.
He stormed forward, voice rising. Hold on. Hold on. You can't do this. They're just boys.
They're residents of my district. I didn't authorize any of this. A federal agent stepped into his path. Officer Hemsworth, this is federal jurisdiction now. Step back.
Hemsworth's face flushed deep red. The hell it is. This is my station, my authority. You don't get to march in here and Step back. The agent repeated firmer.
Hemsworth shoved him. The crowd gasped. Malik's head snapped toward the officer. The agent who had been shoved didn't so much as blink. Officer Hemsworth, you are obstructing federal detainment protocol.
Step back immediately. Hemsworth's voice cracked with desperation. This is out of hand. They're teens, they didn't know the dog was federal. They didn't mean They meant the cruelty.
Malik said sharply, stepping forward. They meant the humiliation. They meant the violence. Ignorance of federal designation does not excuse attempted murder of a working canine. Hemsworth threw his arms up.
This is ridiculous. You're overreacting. It was just Malik stepped closer. His presence cutting through the space like a blade. Finish that sentence.
Say just a dog. I want to hear you say it. Hemsworth's mouth opened, but no words came out. He looked around, realizing every camera was pointed at him, every student, every agent, dozens of live streams. The world was watching him lose control.
He stepped back breathing hard. The lead agent addressed him with icy calm. Officer Hemsworth, your refusal to act, your dismissal of evidence, and your interference in detainment will all be included in the federal misconduct report. Hemsworth's face drained of color. And for the record, the agent continued, you are dangerously close to obstructing justice and impeding a federal operation.
Step back now. This time, Hemsworth obeyed. He retreated, defeated, shoulders sagging as students recorded every second of the downfall he brought on himself. Blake, Connor, and Reed knelt on the concrete, hands bound, faces pale, their bravado in ruins. A student whispered, "This is the first time I've ever seen Blake look scared." Another replied, "This is the first time Blake's ever faced consequences." But Zuri wasn't looking at them.
She was staring at Shadow. The federal K9 was growing weaker, his breathing irregular, body trembling more violently than before. One agent approached Malik. "Sir, the medical unit is en route, but he's unstable. Moving him carefully could help, but there's a risk." "I'll carry him." Malik said immediately.
The agents hesitated. "Sir, protocol." "Override protocol." Malik said, kneeling beside Shadow. His voice softened for the first time since arriving, a full contrast to the steel he had shown the bullies in Hemsworth. "He'll respond better to someone he trusts." Together, they lifted Shadow with steady hands and placed him onto the K9 emergency stretcher. Malik supported the dog's head, whispering, "I'm here.
Stay with me." Zuri walked beside them, tears streaking down her cheeks. "Dad, is he going to?" "I don't know." Malik whispered, "but we'll fight for him." They reached the K9 emergency vehicle. Malik climbed inside with Shadow, still cradling the dog's head. Just as the doors were about to close, a K9 medic stepped in. "Agent Ward, we ran a quick preliminary assessment." Malik's stomach tightened.
The medic continued, voice heavy. "It's not good. The head trauma is severe. There may be internal bleeding. We need to get him to the federal veterinary hospital immediately." Zuri felt the ground tilt beneath her feet.
Shadow's chest rose, shuddered, and and again, weaker than ever. Malik looked at the medic, jaw clenched. "Do whatever it takes." The medic nodded. As the vehicle doors shut, Malik met Zuri's eyes. For the first time today, she saw fear in her father's.
Real fear. The kind no agent training could suppress. The kind only a parent could feel. For the first time, justice belonged to Zuri, but it might have come too late for Shadow. The federal K9 veterinary unit smelled of antiseptic, cold metal, and urgency.