Dana took a breath.
“Sergeant, you’re being reassigned from field duties pending review of this incident.”
Kyle stared.
“Lieutenant—”
She raised a hand.
“We’ll examine the evidence through the appropriate process.”
Then she turned toward Renee.
“Mrs. Caldwell, I’d like to apologize for the way this encounter unfolded.”
Renee nodded.
“Thank you.”
But she had another question.
“Lieutenant, can I ask something?”
“Of course.”
“If my husband hadn’t arrived, would I be sitting in a jail cell right now?”
Dana didn’t answer immediately.
And that silence told Renee more than any apology could.
Chapter 10: The First Night in Their New Home
That evening, the house was quiet.
The moving boxes remained unopened.
The floor lamp still sat near the front porch.
The grocery bag Marcus brought home was on the kitchen counter.
Renee sat on the steps overlooking the backyard.
Marcus joined her carrying two cups of tea.
He handed her one.
She smiled faintly.
“Thanks.”
For several minutes, they sat together.
Then Renee looked at her wrists.
The red marks were fading.
Marcus noticed.
“Does it still hurt?”
“A little.”
He nodded.
Renee stared toward the backyard.
“I spent nine years waiting for this house.”
Marcus looked at her.
“I know.”
“I imagined the porch. The kitchen. The holidays.”
Her voice softened.
“I didn’t imagine being arrested on moving day.”
Marcus placed his cup beside him.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t here sooner.”
Renee shook her head.
“No.”
She turned toward him.
“You were exactly where you were supposed to be.”
He remained quiet.
Renee continued.
“The problem wasn’t that you arrived late.”
She looked toward the window.
“The problem was that she didn’t believe I belonged here until you arrived.”
