“You’re making a huge mistake,” Jaclyn yelled, glaring at Officer Vance as she flung her bags into the back seat.

Officer Vance didn’t answer her or even turn his head.

He took a clear plastic evidence bag from his jacket pocket and slipped the broken padlock inside.

He peeled the paper strip off the adhesive seal and pressed the plastic flat with his thumb.

The taxi door slammed, and the tires threw up wet gravel as the car pulled away down the road.

Clay walked into my study at two o’clock, his heavy rig boots leaving damp red rings on the braided rag rug.