A tan coat hung over the back of a kitchen chair, visible through the side window.

A cruiser turned onto Linden Court, slow and dark.

It parked behind Rachel’s car, and Officer Daniel Hale got out.

A broad man with silver hair got out of the other side.

Hale shifted his weight from one foot to the other while the captain looked at the house.

“Ms. Whitaker,” Hale said. “Sir. Ma’am.”

The captain put his hands on his belt.

“Who is claiming tenancy here?”