That surprised him slightly.
A petty part of him had imagined feeling satisfaction if Valerie ever discovered his job.
He had never intentionally hidden it.
He simply did not announce it.
Willow Crest residents knew he worked in county government.
Some knew law enforcement.
Very few knew he was the sheriff.
Marcus did not campaign in the neighborhood.
He did not put signs in his yard.
He did not wear uniforms at home.
The house was a place where his title could disappear.
Until now.
Cody whispered:
“You’re the sheriff?”
Marcus looked at him.
“Yes.”
The boy took a step backward.
Marcus immediately said:
“Cody.”
He stopped.
“You do not need to be afraid of me.”
Valerie stared at Marcus as if he had spoken nonsense.
Marcus continued.
“But you do need to understand that what happened here is serious.”
The boy looked toward his mother.
She snapped:
“Do not answer him.”
Marcus nodded.
“That’s fine.”
He looked at Nicole.
“Separate everybody.”
Valerie exploded.
“You cannot order your own deputies to investigate me.”
Marcus looked at her.
“I just ordered them not to.”
She stopped.
Andre was already on the phone.
“Georgia State Patrol can send a supervisor.”
Marcus nodded.
“Good.”
Valerie looked around.
“You’re turning an HOA inspection into a criminal matter.”
Marcus held up the silver key on her wrist.
“No.”
He pointed toward it.
“That did.”
Her hand closed around the keys.
Too fast.
Nicole noticed.
“Ma’am, keep your hands visible.”
Valerie glared.
“I’m holding my own keys.”
Marcus said nothing.
The key had suddenly become much more interesting.
State Lieutenant Ellen Price arrived twenty-eight minutes later.
She had known Marcus professionally for six years.
She greeted him exactly as she would any other complainant.
“Mr. Hale.”
Marcus appreciated that.
“Lieutenant.”
She looked at Valerie and Cody.
“Who is the juvenile?”
“Cody Whitmore.”
“Parent?”
Valerie raised a hand.
“Me.”
Price nodded.
“We’ll speak separately.”
Valerie immediately said:
“No.”
Price looked at her.
“Then he can remain with another responsible adult while I take your statement, or we can arrange your counsel. But I am not conducting an interview while people answer for each other.”
Cody looked embarrassed.
Marcus went inside.
Changed.
Dark jeans.
Gray T-shirt.
Shoes.
By the time he returned, a marked state patrol car sat outside alongside the unmarked sheriff vehicles.
Several neighbors had emerged.
Of course.
Willow Crest could detect embarrassment faster than smoke.
Marcus hated public scenes.
He walked toward Andre.
“Make sure nobody from our office accesses any neighborhood records without state request.”
Andre nodded.
“Already told dispatch.”
“Good.”
“Want me to stay?”
“As witness to arrival only.”
Andre smiled faintly.
“You sound like a policy manual.”
“That's why they elected me.”
Andre glanced toward Valerie.
“You never told her?”
“No.”
“Why?”
Marcus looked at him.
“Would it have changed how she treated me?”
“Yes.”
“Exactly.”
Andre became quiet.