“Any wants?”
“Negative.”
“Any warrants?”
“Negative.”
Carter muttered, “Could still be fake.”
Margaret heard.
“His moving truck was there for three days.”
Carter looked toward her.
“Ma’am, go home.”
She raised her phone.
“No.”
Carter’s eyes narrowed.
“Are you recording?”
“Yes.”
“You need to step back.”
“I’m on my property.”
Carter moved toward her.
Isaiah felt anger for the first time.
Not because she was filming.
Because Carter’s instinct when questioned was again control.
Isaiah leaned toward the cage partition.
“Sergeant.”
Carter turned sharply.
Isaiah spoke through the small gap.
“Leave her alone.”
Higgins looked incredulous.
“You’re giving orders from the back seat now?”
Isaiah did not answer him.
He looked only at Carter.
The sergeant stared back.
Then returned to the cruiser.
He opened the driver’s door.
“Let’s take him in.”
Higgins frowned.
“Shouldn’t we wait for burglary unit?”
“He’s got no ID.”
“No system return.”
“We’ll sort it downtown.”
Isaiah knew the point had arrived.
He could not let them transport him without forcing another verification attempt.
Not for his own safety.
For what would follow once his absence was noticed.
His morning schedule was not flexible.
At 7:00, he was supposed to receive a secure call from his operations chief.
At 7:30, an aide would arrive at 442 with briefing material.
At 8:00, military security expected confirmation before Leah’s transport.
If Isaiah vanished into a local booking process without explanation, people would start asking questions.
Important people.
Quickly.
That was avoidable.
He leaned forward.
“Sergeant Carter.”
Carter looked through the open door.
“Before you move this vehicle, call your watch commander.”
Carter laughed.
“You really like saying that.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Isaiah looked directly at him.
“Because if you put this cruiser into gear before verifying my identity, the next hour of your life is going to become extremely complicated.”
Higgins turned.
“Is that a threat?”
“No.”
Isaiah’s voice remained calm.
“It is professional advice.”
Carter’s expression hardened.
“Drive.”
The cruiser pulled away.
Margaret remained on the curb filming.
Isaiah watched 442 Willow Creek Lane pass through the rain-streaked window.
His new house.
The ramp contractor’s truck would arrive at nine.
Leah at two.
He wondered whether she would laugh when she heard.
Almost certainly.
After she became furious.
Five minutes into the drive, Higgins looked back through the cage.
“You nervous yet?”
Isaiah stared out the window.
“No.”
“You should be.”
Isaiah looked at him.
“Why?”
Higgins smiled.
“Pine Valley doesn’t play around with burglaries.”
Isaiah nodded.
“Does Pine Valley normally arrest homeowners without confirming they own their homes?”
Higgins’s smile disappeared.
“Keep talking.”
“I am asking a procedural question.”
“You’re trying to sound smart.”
Isaiah almost laughed.
Carter spoke from the passenger seat.
“Guys like you always think if you talk formal enough, we’ll get intimidated.”
Isaiah looked at the back of Carter’s head.
“Guys like me?”
Silence.
Higgins glanced toward Carter.
Carter realized the phrase had landed poorly.
“You know what I mean.”
“No.”
Isaiah leaned back.
“I don’t.”
The cruiser continued.
At 6:41 a.m., Isaiah’s phone began ringing inside the evidence pouch Higgins had placed up front.
Higgins looked down.
The screen displayed:
COL. ANDERSON — SECURE OPS