Then he stood and turned back to the recruits\u2014who suddenly looked very, very young.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou three think you\u2019re tough because she\u2019s sitting and you\u2019re standing?\u201d His tone didn\u2019t rise, but the disappointment in it burned deeper than anger. \u201cYou think strength comes from mocking someone who\u2019s already fought harder battles than any of you have seen?\u201d<\/p>\n
They swallowed hard.<\/p>\n
Hale nodded toward Emily. \u201cThat woman has more courage in her left hand than you have between the three of you.\u201d<\/p>\n
The tall recruit tried to stammer out an excuse. \u201cWe were just\u2014just joking around, sir\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt wasn\u2019t funny,\u201d Hale said. \u201cAnd it wasn\u2019t harmless.\u201d<\/p>\n
He stepped closer.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou scared her service dog\u2014an animal trained to keep her safe. That crosses a line you do\u00a0not<\/em>\u00a0want to cross.\u201d<\/p>\n
The recruits stared at the ground.<\/p>\n
Hale continued, \u201cHere\u2019s what\u2019s going to happen. You\u2019re going to apologize. Then you\u2019re going to walk into that admin building and turn yourselves in for disciplinary review. And if you don\u2019t?\u201d<\/p>\n
His eyes hardened into something unmistakably lethal.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen I will handle it personally.\u201d<\/p>\n
Their voices trembled as they apologized.<\/p>\n
Emily accepted quietly\u2014not because they deserved it, but because she refused to let them take any more of her energy.<\/p>\n
The recruits hurried away toward the building, practically tripping over themselves to get there first.<\/p>\n
Hale waited until they were out of earshot before turning back to her.<\/p>\n
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