Chapter 9
Vale turned to the room.
“Everyone here will give a statement before the end of the day.”
No one argued.
Then he looked at Claire.
“And you’re going to medical.”
Claire sighed.
“I’m fine, sir.”
Titan barked once.
The room almost laughed.
This time, not cruelly.
Vale lifted an eyebrow.
“Your partner disagrees.”
Claire looked down at Titan.
“Traitor.”
Titan wagged his tail once.
Just once.
Enough to break the tension.
A week later, the base investigation became official.
Lieutenant Reed was removed from his assignment.
Witness statements confirmed the assault in the mess hall.
Recovered communications from Sand Harbor confirmed that Claire had reported a live scent three times before Reed ordered her to withdraw.
The original mission report was corrected.
Reed’s claim that no K9 alert occurred was marked false.
His commendation from that operation was suspended.
Claire’s actions were finally added to the record.
Titan’s too.
The ceremony happened in the same mess hall.
Claire hated that at first.
She did not want to stand in the place where she had been shoved.
Where her tray had hit the floor.
Where people had laughed.
But Commander Vale insisted.
“Bad memories don’t get to own rooms forever,” he told her.
So she stood at the front beside Titan while the same tables were filled with sailors and Marines.
This time, no one whispered.
No one smirked.
No one asked why a K9 handler was there.
Vale stepped forward with a small case in his hands.
“Three years ago,” he said, “I was alive under debris for one reason.”
His voice tightened.
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“Because a handler trusted her dog more than an officer trusted the truth.”
Read Part 10 to find out why Titan’s medal meant more to Claire than her own recognition.
