Page 162 of Tides That Bind

I barely hover over the seat and my quads start to shake as I wait for the judge to flip through the complaint.

“Right. An interesting one on the docket. Jones VS. Oceanside Police Department in a Writ of Replevin.” With his head still tilted down he lifts his eyes, looking at me. “You represent the plaintiff?”

I shoot up. “Riley Monroe, sir. Yes, representing the plaintiff, Mrs. Harper Jones, trustee of—”

Judge Pearson holds up a hand, cutting me off. His eyes turn to the table beside me. “And Ms. Cristoff, solicitor for Oceanside. Good to see you again.”

Great.

The town’s attorney stands. “Good morning, your honor.”

Judge Pearson is rattling off a slew of information for me to verify, like Harper’s full name, her address.

“And to clarify. The property in question today”—he pauses, narrowing his eyes before sitting back in his chair—“is adog?”

I swallow. “Yes, sir. Domesticated animals are considered property under—”

“Mr. Monroe, while I appreciate your eagerness, I don’t need to be reminded about California law.”

Heat rises up my neck.

Judge Pearson continues, “Now, what I see here is that the property at hand is a police K9, is that correct?

“Yes, your honor,” Cristoff stands. “K9Cruzhas been anactive police K9 for the past seven and a half years.”

“And the plaintiff is not a current or former employee of the police department, is that correct?” he addresses me.

I nod. “Yes, your honor. Ms. Jones is the widow of Officer Nathaniel Jones, the former handler ofTides.”

I won’t call Tides by any other name than the right one, especially with Lucas behind me.

“He was the handler. Under K9 handler contracts, specifically that of Officer Jones’, police K9s retire with their handlers if they fall into the retirement age window of seven to eleven years. The dog we’re talking about is eight.”

Cristoff beside me clears her throat. “Your honor, if I may. We’d first like to express our sincerest sympathies to the plaintiff for her loss. But it must go on record that K9 Cruz was handled by another officer—”

“Forfiveweeks,” I interrupt. “Out of almost a decade of service.”

The judge raises his hand again, reminding me of my father’s lectures growing up. “Mr. Monroe, I’ll give you a chance. Continue, Ms. Cristoff.”

“Police K9s are allowed to retire with their handlers provided they haven’t been successfully handled by another officer before. K9 Cruz was handled successfully several years ago. He’s a healthy animal capable of working. Under the contract, the police department exercised its right within the established ninety-day window to seize its property.”

Judge Pearson sits back in his chair. “I suppose you have something to say, Mr. Monroe.”

“Yes, your honor. I…” I press my tie against my stomach and look down at my notes. But what do I see? A bunch of combination of words that make no sense to me, and beside them, Lucas's superhero. Running my hands over my papers, I see them shaking, fingers growing red with heat.

I reach up, slipping my finger into my collar to get more air, finally taking a deep enough breath and look back at Lucas whooffers me a thumbs up from his place beside Harper. And then I shake my head at my sister because I’m about to do everything she told me not to.

I pick up Captain America, turning him in my hands, knowing what I need to do. And when I speak from my heart, the nerves taper down into nothing.

“You know, your honor, it felt wrong to file a motion for you to issue a Writ of Replevin.” Out of the corner of my eye I see Cristoff turn. Her stare bores into me, but I continue. “Because even though the law and the town consider a dog property, my client doesn’t. I don’t.”

Judge Pearson sits back in his chair.

“That dog served this town and community, just like his former handler did. Officer Jones also served hiscountryin the Marine Corps before becoming a police officer. But do you know who supported him in his honorable service? Hisfamily. His wife and young son who already lost one family member they can never bring back. The police department says they haveK9 Cruzin their possession but if you ask my client and her son, they tookTidesaway from them. He’s another member of their family. But the difference is, he can come home. Officer Jones cannot.

“And, as Ms. Cristoff so clearly said, Tides is capable of working. Working for him doesn’t always mean being on patrol and on the clock. For him, working also meant taking care of his family. It’s part of his identity. I’d argue it’s detrimental to Tides’s mental health to be separated from his family long term. So yes, I ask you to come to your decision based on the contract and the welfare of the dog.”

Judge Pearson’s bushy, white eyebrows pop. “The welfare of the dog?”

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