Black leather, about the size of a hardcover book, one brass snap, nothing written on the outside.

“Open it after I’ve read you the wording,” she said.

She read from the protection order in the same flat tone she used for account schedules.

“The bearer is an officer of this court.

Any interference with the bearer’s duties is interference with a judicial proceeding.”

Then she nodded.

Inside, on the left, was a credential card with my photo on it.

I had never sat for that photo.