Because you love them enough to be useful instead of satisfying.

Chapter 3 — Two Cruisers

Fourteen hours later, my plane touched down on Virginia soil, and two sheriff’s cruisers were already waiting outside the terminal doors.

A deputy stepped out first, his name Cole, his right hand resting casually near his holster.

“Micah Cordero?”

“Yes.”

“You need to come with us.”

“Am I under arrest, Deputy?” He hesitated — just a fraction of a second, but I caught it, and it was my first clue that the whole thing was theater.