Chapter 13: A Lesson in Duty

During the ceremony, Officer Piaimitten stood among the uniformed officers at the back of the auditorium. When Maya received a youth commendation for her leadership in the dialogue program, Piaimitten was among the first to applaud. The shift in his demeanor was evident—not just to Marcus, but to his fellow officers. He had learned that real authority comes from restraint, not intimidation.