They Framed Me and Took My K9s—But the Dogs Never Forgot Their Real Trainer

The humiliation of losing control in front of his subordinate pushed Edward over the edge. His face contorted with embarrassment and rage. He knew that if word got back to the precinct that the county's most expensive K9 unit was entirely loyal to a convicted felon, his career would be over.

The Threat on the Yard

Unsheathing his heavy metal baton, Edward stepped forward, his boots splashing in the puddles.

"I said, get these mutts away from her!" Edward roared, raising the weapon. "If they won't obey, they're a liability. I'll have them classified as vicious and euthanized by the end of the day!"

Lauren’s heart stopped. She knew Edward was malicious enough to carry out the threat. She couldn't let her dogs pay the price for her downfall. She looked at Officer King, who was watching the escalation with growing anxiety. King had always been weak, easily swayed by Captain Vance and Edward, but he wasn't entirely heartless.

"You touch them, Edward, and I'll make sure the warden gets the real ledger," Lauren said, her voice low and steady. "The one you forgot to wipe from the K9 kennel's secure server."

Edward froze, his baton hovering mid-air. The color left his face again, replaced by a desperate, trapped look. He knew exactly what ledger she was talking about—the digital backup of the drug bust inventory that proved he and Captain Vance had stolen the contraband themselves.

"You're bluffing," Edward hissed, though his voice lacked conviction. "You've been locked up for six months. You don't have access to anything."

"Try me," Lauren replied, her eyes narrowing. "I set that server up myself. The files are scheduled to be sent to internal affairs automatically if I don't enter a safety code every thirty days. And my thirty days are up tomorrow."

Edward’s knuckles turned white on his baton. He looked at King, then back at Lauren, realizing he was completely cornered.