Vance lowered his reading glasses and glanced around the empty living room.

“Where’s the mother?” Vance asked.

“She went shopping three hours ago,” Travis said, completely defiant.

“I was watching the kid.”

Vance turned to Derek.

“Is that true?” Vance asked in careful, formal legal language.

“Did you force your way into this home?”

“The door wasn’t locked,” Derek said.