Traffic on Route 4 slowed to a steady crawl near the business district.

A line of commuters’ brake lights glowed bright red in the gloomy afternoon.

Michael gripped the wheel and watched the digital dashboard clock flip to two fifteen.

His phone lay on the passenger seat with the speaker on.

A woman with a crisp voice talked over the road noise.

She said she was the county emergency dispatcher, calling from the communications desk at the courthouse.

“Three patrol cars are on their way to Maple Street now,” the dispatcher said.