Derek did not answer.
Her face changed.
“You’re not saying no.”
“He pointed it.”
Ava’s tears came.
Quietly.
That hurt more.
Derek opened his arms.
This time she crossed the distance.
He held her.
She was almost as tall as Danielle had been.
That realization arrived at inappropriate times.
Always did.
Into his chest Ava said:
“Mom would be so mad at you.”
Derek smiled painfully.
“Your mother was usually mad at me.”
“She was right.”
“Often.”
Ava pulled back.
“Did he know you were FBI?”
“Not at first.”
“Would it matter?”
Derek looked at her.
That was the question.
The same question that would follow him for years.
“What?”
Ava asked.
“If you weren’t FBI.”
She wiped her face.
“If you were just you.”
Derek said nothing.
Ava continued:
“Would they have stopped?”
His badge had changed the ending.
Not the beginning.
Derek looked at his daughter.
“No.”
The word felt heavier than he expected.
“I don’t think they would have.”
Ava nodded.
Not satisfied.
Just confirmed.
“That’s messed up.”
“Yes.”
“Can I say worse?”
“No.”
“You do.”
“Adult privilege.”
She rolled her eyes through tears.
Normality returned for half a second.
Derek needed that.
Ava sat at the table.
“Are you going back tomorrow?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because the stop gave us evidence.”
She stared.
“You’re happy it happened?”
“No.”
“It sounded like that.”
Derek sat opposite her.
“I’m not happy.”
“But sometimes bad things expose what was already there.”
“That doesn’t make the bad thing good.”
Ava looked toward him.
“Is that one of your agent speeches?”
“No.”
“It sounded like one.”
“Sorry.”
She picked up the uncapped marker.
“Come home tomorrow.”
“I will.”
“Don’t promise if you can’t.”
He looked at her.
Danielle used to say that.
Exact words.
Ava probably remembered.
Derek nodded.
“I’ll do everything I can.”
That answer she accepted.
By morning, Bellmont Police Department had released a statement.
SERGEANT INVOLVED IN HIGH-RISK VEHICLE STOP PLACED ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE.
The statement said Mitchell had acted on “information available at the time.”
It said a firearm had been located on the driver.
It said an “identity verification issue” complicated the stop.
It said the department would cooperate fully.
Derek read it twice.
Then walked into Nguyen’s office.
“Identity verification issue?”
She did not look up.
“I know.”
“They smashed the window because they didn’t verify identity.”
“I know.”
“They mention my firearm but not that it was lawfully carried as part of federal duty.”
“I know.”
“They make it sound like I surprised them with a gun.”
Nguyen finally looked up.
“Derek.”
“What?”
“Sit.”
He sat.
“You cannot become the public face of this investigation.”
“I know.”