The question was more difficult than she realized.
Finally, he answered.
"Then you keep asking questions, and you make sure you're telling the truth."
Sophie nodded.
Then pushed the toy truck across the table.
"Okay. But you should take a real mechanic too."
Marcus laughed.
"I'll keep that in mind."
Three days before the hearing, the pressure became more obvious.
A police cruiser followed Marcus through downtown for several blocks.
He drove carefully.
Used his turn signals.
And continued toward the nonprofit office.
The cruiser eventually turned away.
The next day, one of the volunteers received an anonymous call suggesting that Marcus was using the Veterans Neighbor Network to create political trouble.
The volunteer reported the call.
Nobody could identify the caller.
Then someone left a note beneath the windshield wiper of Marcus's Silverado.
Stop making enemies you can't afford.
Marcus photographed it.
Preserved it.
And contacted Danielle.
She urged him to be cautious.
Renee became increasingly worried.
That evening, she stood beside the kitchen sink while Marcus explained the latest development.
For several seconds, she didn't speak.
Then she turned.
"Marcus, I'm not asking you to abandon those people."
He nodded.
"I know."
"But I am asking you to remember that Sophie needs her father."
The words struck him.
He looked toward the living room.
Their daughter was sitting on the carpet, drawing with colored pencils.
For a moment, he felt the weight of the decision.
He could withdraw.
Return the files.
And allow the hearing to proceed without him.
Nobody could reasonably demand that he risk his family's safety to challenge municipal towing practices.
But he also thought about Walter.
Linda.
And the people who had paid unexplained charges because they were frightened of making trouble.
He took a breath.
"I'll share everything with Danielle and the outside investigators. I'll avoid confronting Hale, and I'll make sure somebody knows where I am."
Renee looked toward him.
Then asked, "And if you feel unsafe?"
"I leave."
She studied his face.
For several seconds, she seemed to consider whether he meant it.
Then nodded.
"All right."
Marcus embraced her.
He didn't promise nothing would happen.
He couldn't know that.
But he promised not to confuse courage with ignoring danger.