Michael Carter has devoted his life to the force, serving as an officer for more than fifteen years.
But suddenly, shackled in a courtroom, his world had come crumbling down.
The judge’s gavel boomed across the room with crushing finality: “Guilty.” Michael felt numb.
He knew he’d been framed, with evidence planted to ruin his life.
The hardest pain, however, came not from the verdict, but from the reality that he would have to leave Luke, his devoted K9 partner, behind.’
Luke, a faithful German Shepherd, has been Michael’s buddy on numerous risky missions.
As Michael gazed at the floor in sorrow, Luke observed closely from the rear of the courtroom, thinking something was very wrong.
As the judge prepared to leave, Michael mustered the confidence to speak up.
“Your Honor, please,” his trembling voice broke the gloomy silence. “Before I’m taken away, may I have one last moment with Luke?”
The judge hesitated, visibly moved, and nodded softly. “Three minutes.”
Luke dashed towards Michael, his paws clicking quickly on the marble floor.
Michael knelt, bringing his faithful companion into a close embrace as tears streamed down his face. “I’m very sorry, buddy. “I let you down.” Luke sobbed softly and pressed closer.
Then Luke tightened.
He started sniffing Michael’s jacket, barking insistently, and tugging on the fabric. The courtroom murmured with uncertainty.
“What’s going on?” the judge inquired sternly.
An cop approached slowly, scrutinizing Michael’s jacket. A little, metallic object fell on the ground—a recording device.
The prosecutor’s face became pale as he swiftly replied, “This proves nothing!”
Ignoring him, the judge told the cop to “play it.”
A nervous silence fell over the room as static crackled from the little recorder. Then, clearly, a gruff voice said, “Just plant the evidence.” Carter’s pristine record makes him the ideal scapegoat. “Get it done.”
Michael’s heart pounded.
He recognized that voice—Captain Ray Harding, his own supervisor, mentor, and supposed ally.
“Enough!” shouted the prosecutor, but the judge firmly intervened, ordering Michael back to holding and Captain Harding brought in for questioning.
Everything changed at once. Sarah Mitchell, a fellow officer and friend, volunteered to care for Luke. She sensed Luke’s restlessness right away and recognized he was trying to say something more.
The story doesn’t end here –
it continues on the next page.
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