Then he whispered, “In your own yard.”
I swallowed.
“Yes.”
He rubbed both hands over his face.
Then sat slowly in an armchair.
My mother pulled away.
She examined my face.
“Your eyes.”
“They're irritated. I'm getting checked.”
She nodded.
Then looked toward Helena.
“Where is the officer?”
Helena answered carefully.
“He's been removed from patrol duties while the appropriate investigation begins.”
Mom took a breath.
“Good.”
My father looked up.
“What did he say when he found out?”
I hesitated.
Then answered.
“He said he didn't know who I was.”
Dad stared.
For a moment, he seemed unable to speak.
Then he shook his head.
“That's what makes me angry.”
I looked toward him.
He continued.
“Not that he embarrassed himself in front of the new chief.”
His voice grew rough.
“That he thought it was acceptable to do it to someone he believed had no power.”
The room became quiet.
I nodded.
“Exactly.”
Dad leaned backward.
Then looked toward the ceiling.
For a long time, he said nothing.
Finally, he whispered, “Your grandmother warned you about people like that.”
I smiled sadly.
“She did.”
He nodded.
“She always said the uniform doesn't make the person honest.”
I looked toward my hands.
Mom sat beside me.
Then said something that stayed with me long after the evening ended.
“Camille, don't let the department turn you into a symbol so they can avoid dealing with the problem.”
I looked toward her.
She continued.
“They'll want photographs. Statements. A promise that the chief is strong and everything is being handled.”
Her expression sharpened.
“But there are people in this city who've been through worse and never had anybody powerful come to their house.”
For several seconds, I couldn't speak.
Then I nodded slowly.
“I know.”
She took my hand.
“Remember them.”
I squeezed her fingers.
“I will.”
We didn't have the celebration we'd planned.
My brother arrived shortly after six and spent the first ten minutes asking whether he needed to find the officer himself.
Dad told him to sit down.
Mom told him to stop making things worse.
And I told him that nobody was getting themselves arrested on the first day of my new job.