Richard stared at me for a long moment.

He slowly put the camera back in his jacket pocket.

He didn’t cross his arms.

He just nodded once, a sharp, tight nod of surrender.

He turned around and started walking down the brick path toward the main gates.

Linda lingered for a second.

She reached out toward me, her fingers trembling slightly in the crisp wind.

I kept my hands behind my back and held her gaze.