“You’re going to take her word over mine.”

“I’m taking the paper,” the captain said.

Hale moved toward the cruiser.

“Sir, I need you to turn around and place your hands flat on the hood.”

Mark stood on the driveway, his clean shirt pressed against the afternoon.

The keys in his pocket went quiet.

His hands went flat on the hood.

Vanessa came down the front porch steps carrying a cardboard box full of kitchen towels.