“She was never in any danger, and you know it.”

Red and blue lights flickered against the snow on the oak trees at the end of the block.

A white Columbus police cruiser turned slowly into the cul-de-sac, its tires crunching through the frozen slush along the curb.

It pulled up right behind my rental car, followed by a second cruiser with its headlights dimmed.

Trevor didn’t run.

He didn’t go red or raise his voice.

He just slid his hands into his jacket pockets, walked down the three porch steps, and met the first officer at the edge of the lawn.