Before Mercer could answer, Blackwood was on his feet. «Objection, your honor. This witness was not on the defense’s list. We’ve had no opportunity to prepare for this testimony.»
«Your honor,» Iris countered, «Admiral Mercer contacted me only yesterday after observing the proceedings. His testimony is directly relevant to establishing my client’s credibility.»
Judge Hargrove hesitated, clearly weighing the impropriety against his own curiosity. «I’ll allow it, but keep it brief, Ms. Mendel. Admiral, you may answer the question.»
«I am familiar with Ms. Thorne by reputation and service record,» Mercer stated carefully.
«And what can you tell us about her service?»
«Very little that isn’t classified,» Mercer replied. «However, I can confirm that certain operations conducted between 2017 and 2019 in the Eastern Theater involved personnel whose records would appear to anyone without appropriate clearance, exactly as Ms. Thorne’s appear now.»
Blackwood scoffed. «This is pure speculation, your honor. The admiral has not stated that he knows Ms. Thorne personally or can verify her specific involvement in any operation.»
«That’s correct,» Mercer acknowledged. «I cannot confirm or deny Ms. Thorne’s specific role. I can only testify to the existence of protocols that would explain the discrepancies in her record.»
Judge Hargrove frowned. «Admiral, with all due respect, this court needs more than vague allusions to classified protocols.»
«I understand, your honor,» Mercer replied. «Perhaps I could suggest an alternative approach. There are certain procedural markers, physical indicators, that would be known only to personnel involved in specific operations.»
«What kind of markers?» Judge Hargrove asked.
«Training protocols, particularly for service animals assigned to certain units,» Mercer explained. «Command sequences that would be impossible to fake or learn secondhand.»
The courtroom fell silent as everyone processed this information. Ravenna remained expressionless, but Cipher’s posture changed slightly, becoming more alert.
«Your honor,» Blackwood interjected, «this is absurd. The admiral is suggesting we evaluate the defendant based on how her dog responds to commands. This isn’t a circus.»
«It’s actually quite standard procedure in verifying claimed special operations backgrounds,» Mercer countered. «When documentation is classified or unavailable, behavioral verification becomes essential.»
Judge Hargrove studied Mercer for a long moment. «I’ll allow a demonstration, but if this turns into theater, I’ll not only dismiss it but consider sanctions against defense counsel.»
Iris nodded gratefully. «Admiral Mercer, could you please explain what we should look for?»
«K-9 units assigned to certain operations receive specialized training beyond standard military working dogs,» Mercer explained. «Their handlers use command protocols that combine elements of multiple languages and precise physical positioning. These protocols are classified and taught only to personnel within specific units.»
He turned to face the court. «If Ms. Thorne served where her partial records suggest, her service animal would respond to these protocols in a way that would be impossible to train outside the program.»
Judge Hargrove looked skeptical but nodded. «Proceed with the demonstration.»
«I won’t be conducting it, your honor,» Mercer clarified. «I only know of the protocols. Only a handler from the specific unit would know the exact commands.»
All eyes turned to Ravenna, who sat motionless at the defense table. «Ms. Thorne,» Judge Hargrove addressed her directly, impatience evident in his tone. «If you wish this court to consider this line of evidence, you’ll need to participate actively.»
Ravenna looked at Iris, who nodded encouragingly. Then she took out her notepad and wrote something, handing it to her lawyer. Iris read aloud, «My client requests that the court reporter ensure all video equipment is functional for the record.»
The court reporter nodded, adjusting her camera slightly.
«For the record,» Judge Hargrove said, «the court reporter is recording these proceedings as standard practice. Now, Ms. Thorne, please proceed with whatever demonstration the admiral has suggested.»
Ravenna remained seated, looking straight ahead. The seconds ticked by in awkward silence.
«Your honor,» Blackwood said with barely concealed triumph, «it appears the defendant is unable or unwilling to perform this alleged demonstration. I move that we…»
Ravenna raised her hand slightly, stopping Blackwood mid-sentence. Then she reached into her pocket and removed a small object, a weathered challenge coin bearing no recognizable insignia. She placed it on the table in front of her. Admiral Mercer nodded almost imperceptibly.
«Your honor,» Blackwood protested, «what possible relevance does this coin have?»
Judge Hargrove held up his hand. «Let’s see where this goes, counselor.»
Ravenna closed her eyes briefly, then opened them with new focus. Her posture shifted subtly, shoulders squared, chin slightly raised. It was as though a different person had suddenly occupied her body. She glanced down at Cipher, who had been lying quietly beneath the defense table throughout the proceedings.
Without speaking, she made a series of subtle hand gestures: fingers splayed, then three fingers extended, then a circular motion. Cipher’s ears pricked forward, his body tensing with immediate alertness. He moved from his relaxed position to a precisely controlled stance, weight distributed evenly, head perfectly level, eyes forward.
The transformation was subtle but unmistakable to anyone familiar with military working dogs. This was not the body language of a service animal responding to a standard command but the tactical positioning of a combat-trained canine.
Judge Hargrove leaned forward slightly, his expression shifting from skepticism to curiosity. Ravenna made another hand signal—right hand flat, then three fingers curled—followed by a barely audible whistle pattern. Cipher responded by executing a precise series of movements, shifting position to create a triangulation point between himself, Ravenna, and the courtroom entrance. His head turned at exact 30-degree intervals, scanning in a pattern that military handlers would recognize as a security sweep protocol.
«Your Honor,» Blackwood began, but his voice lacked its earlier confidence.
«What you’re witnessing, your Honor,» Admiral Mercer spoke up, «is a room-clearing protocol taught only to K-9 units assigned to certain special operations teams. It’s not something that could be learned from videos or books. The specific pattern and timing are classified.»
Judge Hargrove’s expression had grown increasingly serious. «Admiral, are you suggesting—»
«I’m not suggesting anything, your Honor,» Mercer interrupted carefully. «I’m merely confirming that what we’re observing is consistent with protocols used by units whose operations remain classified.»
The courtroom had grown eerily quiet. Even Blackwood seemed at a loss for words. Judge Hargrove studied Ravenna with new eyes. «Ms. Thorne, do you wish to make a statement to this court?»
Ravenna looked directly at the judge for the first time. She opened her mouth as if to speak. Instead, she wrote something on her notepad and handed it to Iris. Iris read the note, and the effect on Judge Hargrove was immediate and startling. His face paled visibly, and he gripped the edge of his bench.
«Your Honor?» Blackwood asked, alarmed by the judge’s reaction.
Judge Hargrove composed himself with visible effort. «This court will take a thirty-minute recess. Counselors, in my chambers immediately.» As they rose to leave, Ravenna made one final hand gesture to Cipher. The dog immediately returned to his standard service animal posture, the transformation so complete it was as if the previous demonstration had never occurred.
Behind the glass walls of the judge’s chambers, court observers could see an animated conversation unfolding. Judge Hargrove appeared to be speaking with unusual intensity, his gestures becoming increasingly agitated while Blackwood’s confident demeanor visibly deflated. Iris emerged from the chambers first, her expression a mixture of confusion and relief. She approached Ravenna and whispered something in her ear. Ravenna nodded once, her face revealing nothing.
When Judge Hargrove returned to the bench, his demeanor had completely transformed. Gone was the impatient skepticism, replaced by something resembling respect, or perhaps caution. «In light of information presented to this court in chambers,» he began carefully, «I’m ordering a brief adjournment to allow the prosecution to reassess their position.»
Blackwood, looking distinctly uncomfortable, nodded in agreement. «The state requests until tomorrow morning, your honor.»
«Granted,» Judge Hargrove replied. «Court is adjourned until 9 a.m. tomorrow.»
As spectators filed out, discussing the unusual turn of events, Admiral Mercer approached the defense table. «Well played,» he said quietly to Ravenna, «but this is just the beginning.»
Ravenna met his gaze evenly but said nothing.
«The unit sends their regards,» Mercer added, his voice barely above a whisper. For a moment, just a moment, something flickered across Ravenna’s face. Recognition, perhaps, or relief.
