Their careers, their futures, everything they'd built flashed before their eyes. All potentially destroyed in the seconds it took to pull a trigger. In Mariah's arms, justice lay still. His purpose fulfilled until the very end, protecting the person he loved most in the world. Even in death, his body shielded her from the officers who had taken his life.
The house felt empty. Mariah stood in her doorway, her hand trembling slightly as she reached for where justice would normally guide her. The silence was deafening. "One step up," she whispered to herself. "Muscle memory from years of justice's gentle guidance." She made her way inside, counting steps and trailing her fingers along familiar walls.
Without justice, her home, once a sanctuary, now felt like an obstacle course. She bumped her hip against the corner of the hallway table, knocking over a picture frame. The glass shattered when it hit the floor. Mariah knelt carefully, feeling for the shards. Her fingers found the frame first, then the photo inside.
She didn't need to see it to know what it showed. her and justice on the courthouse steps the day he completed his service training. Her fingers traced the edges of the frame, feeling where the glass had broken away. The doorbell rang, startling her. She placed the broken frame on the table and made her way carefully to the door. "Who is it?" she called.
"It's Mrs. Chen, Judge Ellison. I brought some food." Mariah opened the door. The smell of homemade chicken soup wafted in. You shouldn't have to cook tonight, Mrs. Chen said gently. None of us can believe what happened.
It was horrible. Just horrible. Thank you, Mariah said, accepting the warm container. Would you like to come in? Just for a moment.
My husband is waiting in the car. Mrs. Chen helped Mariah set the soup in the refrigerator. The whole neighborhood is talking about it. Tom Rivera is organizing people to give statements. We all saw what happened.
Before Mrs. Chen left, she squeezed Mariah's hand. We're with you, judge. What they did wasn't right. Throughout the evening, more neighbors came. Tom Rivera brought bread from his wife.
The Jacksons from down the street brought a casserole. Each visitor expressed outrage, offered condolences, promised to stand as witnesses. But when the last neighbor left, the silence returned, heavier than before. Mariah sat on her couch, Justice's collar in her hands. Her fingers traced the worn leather, the metal tags that jingled whenever he moved.
She pressed the collar to her chest and finally allowed herself to break down, sobbing until her throat hurt. The television murmured in the background. She'd turned it on for company, unable to bear the quiet. Suddenly, the reporter's words cut through her grief. Mo Statement from the police union regarding this morning's shooting of a service animal.
Mariah raised her head, wiping tears away as she turned up the volume. The East City Police Union issued the following statement today. The reporter continued, "Officers responded to a 911 call reporting an aggressive dog threatening neighborhood children. Upon arrival, the animal displayed threatening behavior toward the officers, forcing them to take necessary action to protect themselves and bystanders. While we regret the outcome, our officers acted within protocol given the dangerous situation." Mariah's hand tightened around Justice's collar.
Liars, she whispered. He never threatened anyone. Her phone rang. It was her colleague, Judge Roberts. Mariah, I just saw the news.
Are you all right? No, Raymond, I'm not. Her voice cracked. They shot justice and now they're lying about it. I heard their statement.
It's disgraceful. Judge Roberts paused. The chief justice called me. Word spreading through the judiciary. And there's concern, Mariah, about a judge being involved in a high-profile incident with police.
Mariah sat straighter. Concern? My service dog was murdered by trigger-happy cops who are now lying about it. I should be the one receiving concern, not causing it. I know.
I know. I'm on your side. But there are whispers that you should handle this quietly for the good of the judiciary. Handle this quietly? The words tasted bitter.
You mean let them get away with it? That's not what I said. It's what you meant. After hanging up, Mariah sat motionless, justice's collar still clutched in her hand. The system she dedicated her life to was already closing ranks.
Not around her, but around her dogs killers. A knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts. Judge Ellison, internal affairs, ma'am. May we have a word? Two detectives, one man, one woman, sat across from Mariah at her kitchen table.
They'd introduce themselves as detectives Morgan and Perez. "We understand this is a difficult time," Detective Morgan began. his voice practiced in false sympathy. But we need to get your statement about what happened this morning. Mariah recounted everything. Harold's known prejudice, justice's calm behavior, the officer's contradictory orders, the shot without warning.
And you're certain the dog didn't lunge at the officers? Detective Perez asked. Justice was a trained service animal. He would never lunge unless I was in danger. But given your condition, Morgan said delicately, is it possible you misinterpreted the sequence of events.
Mariah's face hardened. My blindness doesn't affect my hearing or my memory, detective. I know exactly what happened. Of course, Perez interjected smoothly. But trauma can affect perception.
And without being able to see, "There are dozens of witnesses," Mariah cut in. "Neighbors who saw everything. People with video recordings," the detectives exchanged glances. "We've taken statements from several witnesses," Morgan said. "Their accounts vary, and Officer Keller's report indicates your dog charged at them, barking aggressively.
That's a lie." His report also mentions that you were unable to control the animal when ordered to do so. Mariah's hands formed fists on the table. Justice was under perfect control until your officers created chaos by shouting contradictory orders. Well, Perez said, closing her notebook, "We'll continue investigating. The body cam footage should clarify things.