“Gerald Beaumont, we have a warrant for your arrest as an accessory to domestic abuse, conspiracy, and financial extortion.” He held out his wrists in silence, tears running down a face that had, thirty minutes earlier, believed it owned the city, and I felt no triumph watching it — only the quiet closing of a door that should have been shut three years before.

Chapter 14 — Chief

When the room finally emptied and the heavy door swung shut, the silence that came was the most peaceful thing I had felt in three years.

Detective Torres stayed a moment to set a thick folder on my bedside table.

“The emergency protective order is already signed by Judge Thornton,” she said.

“Neither Trent, nor his parents, nor anyone representing the Beaumonts can come within five hundred feet of you or Lily.

And I’ll tell you now, their bail is going to be fought hard — flight risk, and the severity of what’s on those recordings.” “Thank you, Sarah,” my father said softly, and held out his hand.