Caroline looked toward the stairs.
Their children were still awake.
She lowered her voice.
“Then start by telling the truth.”
He stared.
For a moment, he seemed angry.
Then he looked down.
The confrontation had lasted less than two minutes.
But he was beginning to understand how much damage those two minutes could do to everything around him.
Not only his career.
His family.
His marriage.
And the trust of people who had spent years believing he was one of the good officers.
He sat again.
For the first time, he felt something different from fear of punishment.
He began wondering whether the explanation he'd repeated to himself was true.
Alan Pierce had no such doubts.
At least, not initially.
He spent the evening calling Sterling Crest Development executives and trying to convince them the confrontation had become a public relations problem rather than evidence of improper conduct.
The company's regional director, Victor Harlan, answered his call from a hotel in Charlotte.
Victor was forty-eight, silver-haired, and known for negotiating complicated real estate acquisitions.
He wasn't personally opposed to older homeowners remaining in their houses.
But the proposed access road depended upon acquiring several parcels.
And the company had already spent substantial money developing plans around that route.
When Alan called, Victor sounded irritated.
“I saw the video.”
Alan swallowed.
“It's being blown out of proportion.”
“The police officer shoved the new chief.”
“Yes, but nobody knew—”
Victor interrupted.
“That's not the problem.”
Alan frowned.
“What?”
“The problem is why our community liaison was standing behind the officer during the confrontation.”
For several seconds, Alan remained silent.
Then he answered.
“I was responding to a neighborhood safety concern.”
Victor sighed.
“Whose concern?”
“A resident complaint.”
“Which resident?”
Alan hesitated.
Then answered.
“Mine.”
The line became quiet.
Victor took a breath.
“Alan, did you call the police about the Price property?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because the son was being aggressive.”
Victor frowned.
“Was he threatening anybody?”
Alan looked toward the window.
For a moment, he seemed uncertain.
Then answered.
“He confronted me.”
“What did he do?”
“He told me to leave the property.”
Victor closed his eyes.