Chapter 6 - THE SHERIFF ARRIVED FIRST
Two county deputies arrived before Thomas reached the porch.
That mattered.
The criminal issue belonged to civilian law enforcement.
Not the Army.
Not me.
Not Thomas Keene.
Deputy Carla Brooks separated everyone immediately.
Ryan started talking first.
Of course he did.
“My father-in-law came onto private property and threatened me.”
Brooks looked at the baseball bat on the porch.
“Who was holding that?”
Ryan hesitated.
“It’s mine.”
“Who struck the porch with it?”
Silence.
The second deputy was already speaking to the dispatcher.
My call had been recorded through the emergency system.
Emily stood near me shaking.
Brooks asked:
“Ma’am, do you want to leave this property?”
Emily said yes.
Ryan stepped toward her.
Brooks moved between them.
“Sir, stay where you are.”
“My wife is not well.”
Emily’s shoulders tightened.
Brooks looked directly at her.
“Have you been diagnosed with any condition affecting your ability to make decisions for yourself?”
“No.”
“Are you under a court guardianship?”
“No.”
“Do you want medical evaluation?”
Emily swallowed.
“For my face and ribs.”
Ryan looked at his mother.
Diane looked away.
There it was.
The first visible crack.
Brooks asked Emily if Ryan had struck her.
Emily nodded.
Ryan shouted:
“She attacked me first.”
Brooks raised one hand.
“You’ll have your turn.”
Thomas stopped several yards away.
He did not interfere.
Did not announce rank.
Did not bark orders.
He looked at me.
I gave a small shake of my head.
Later.
May you like
His eyes moved toward Richard.
Richard looked as though he wanted to disappear through his own front door.
