“He’ll stay on his side of the line.”

The officer gave one nod, straightened his duty belt, and went back to his car.

The engine caught with a low rumble, and the cruiser rolled slowly down the cul-de-sac, carrying Harry Caldwell out of Oak Creek.

By five thirty the common lawn was empty once more.

The block party tables had been folded up and stacked by the park shelter, leaving nothing but flattened grass and a few paper napkins flapping by the wire trash cans.

I sat on the front porch steps with a glass of tap water, watching the long shadow of the tall pin oak reach across the gravel driveway line.