"That's what every dangerous dog owner says before an attack." Judith stepped to the side of the porch and pressed her face near the window. Bruno was lying by the glass door, tail flat on the floor. "I want the animal removed from the property until registration is complete."
"That's not happening," Franklin said.
"Then I'll have to escalate." Judith's voice rose. She was no longer speaking to Franklin; she was performing for the neighbors on the lawn. "I have tried to be reasonable. I have tried to follow proper procedures. But these people refuse to cooperate with even the most basic community requirements."
These people. The words sat in the air like a stain.
"We have cooperated with everything," Denise said. "You showed up demanding forms nobody's ever seen. You questioned where our money came from. Now you want to take our dog."
Judith ignored her. She stepped off the porch and walked toward the front door where Bruno was visible through the glass sidelight panel.
"Mrs. Pennington, stop."
She didn't stop. She crouched down and pressed her hand against the glass. Bruno stood up. His ears went forward. He barked once—a single, startled bark.
Judith threw herself backward. Her foot caught the edge of the porch step. She landed on the walkway, one knee striking the concrete. Her phone clattered to the ground.
"He attacked me!" She screamed it at full volume. Not to Franklin, but to the street. "That dog lunged at me through the glass!"
"He barked," Franklin said calmly. "You pressed your hand against the door and startled him."
"He tried to break through the window!" Judith was on the ground, clutching her knee. Her voice climbed higher. "And you—you shoved me off the steps!"
Franklin hadn't moved. He stood exactly where he had been standing for the last two minutes: five feet from the porch, hands at his sides, completely still.
"I did not touch you, Mrs. Pennington."
"You pushed me!" She turned to Ed with tears streaming down her face. "Ed, you saw it! He shoved me!"
Ed shifted his weight. He looked at the ground. He looked at Judith. He looked at the porch where Franklin stood, motionless. Then he nodded. "I saw something. Looked like he pushed her."
"That is a lie!" Denise's voice shook with anger and fear. "My husband was standing right there. He never took a single step."