“Is that your standard?”
Mercer frowned.
“What?”
“For evaluating police conduct.”
“I’m saying this didn’t become physical.”
“Because I stayed still.”
Mercer opened his mouth.
Danielle continued.
“If I had stepped toward my door after you ordered me not to?”
Nothing.
“If I had reached for my phone?”
Nothing.
“If I had pulled the key from my pocket too quickly?”
Mercer looked toward Walsh.
Danielle’s voice softened.
“That is why procedure matters before something goes wrong.”
For the first time since arriving, Mercer had no response.
Danielle picked up her package.
“Officer Walsh.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Who is your watch commander?”
“Lieutenant Perez.”
“Contact her.”
Mercer stepped forward.
“Hold on.”
Danielle looked at him.
“We don’t need to turn this into something bigger than it is.”
Danielle studied him.
Then she asked a question Mercer would remember for years.
“How big would it have been if Officer Walsh hadn’t checked?”
Mercer said nothing.
Danielle turned toward Walsh.
“Please ask Lieutenant Perez to come here.”
Walsh nodded.
“Yes, ma’am.”
Mercer stared at him.
Walsh walked toward the cruiser.
Linda returned to her lawn.
Danielle called after her.
“Linda.”
Linda stopped.
Danielle did not raise her voice.
“Please stay.”
Linda looked nervous.
“Why?”
“Because the original caller should be available when the supervisor arrives.”
“I have things to do.”
“So did I.”
Linda remained.
Lieutenant Maria Perez arrived twelve minutes later.
She was forty-three, compact, controlled, and immediately unhappy when she saw the number of neighbors standing outside.
She stepped from her vehicle.
“What happened?”
Mercer answered first.
“We had a suspicious-person call. Homeowner identification confusion. It’s resolved.”
Danielle said nothing.
Perez looked toward her.
“Ma’am, are you the homeowner?”
“Yes.”
Perez looked at Walsh.
“Verified?”
“Yes, Lieutenant.”
“How?”
“County property database, vehicle registration, and internal department record.”
Perez stopped.
“Internal department record?”
Walsh nodded.
Perez looked at Danielle more carefully.
Recognition appeared almost immediately.
“Oh.”
Danielle said nothing.
Perez looked at Mercer.
Then back at Danielle.
“You’re Lieutenant Colonel Carter.”
“Yes.”
Perez closed her eyes for perhaps half a second.
Danielle almost felt sympathy.
Almost.
“You’re scheduled with us tomorrow.”
“I am.”
Perez looked toward Mercer.
He suddenly found the pavement interesting.
Perez asked, “Body cameras?”
Danielle answered before Mercer could.
“Recording.”
Perez nodded.
“Good.”
Mercer said, “Lieutenant, this is already resolved.”
Perez turned.
“I didn’t ask.”
Mercer went silent.
Perez approached Danielle.