“Commissioner, sir, we—we thought—” Briggs stammered, his

tough-guy facade crumbling into pathetic pieces.

“Shut your mouth and take the cuffs off the man!” Davis barked.

Briggs fumbled for his keys with trembling hands. He stepped

behind Marcus, the click of the lock echoing loudly. The heavy steel fell

away, and Marcus brought his arms forward, wincing as the blood

rushed back into his hands. He rubbed his raw, red wrists, his eyes

never leaving the defeated officers.

“Are you uncuffed, Marcus?” Davis asked.

“Yes, Arthur.”

“I am dispatching Captain Reynolds to your location immediately.

He will be there in three minutes. These two officers are not to leave

the premises until he arrives. They are suspended immediately,

pending a full investigation. Marcus, I... I am so profoundly sorry. I will

make this right.”

“I know you will, Arthur. See you soon.” Marcus nodded to Miller,

who obediently ended the call.

Marcus turned away from the officers. He didn't gloat. He didn't

scream. He simply walked away from them, his bare feet padding

softly against the concrete, and went straight to the pool steps where

Lily was sitting. He knelt down, wrapping his large, comforting arms

around her small, shaking frame.

“It’s over, baby,” he whispered into her hair, kissing her forehead.

“Daddy’s right here. It’s all over.”

CHAPTER 6: THE CALL

True to the Commissioner’s word, less than three minutes later, a

black SUV tore down Elmwood Drive, flanked by two more police

cruisers. The vehicles skidded to a halt in front of the Vance estate.

Captain Reynolds, a stern-faced man in a crisp white shirt, leapt from

the SUV before it was fully in park.

He bypassed Briggs and Miller entirely, marching straight onto

the patio where Marcus was sitting on a lounger, holding his daughter,

a towel wrapped around his shoulders. The neighbors had grown

silent, watching the unprecedented scene of high-ranking police brass

rushing to the aid of the man they had just assumed was a criminal.

“Mr. Vance,” Captain Reynolds said, stopping a respectful distance

away and removing his hat. “I am Captain Reynolds. I have been

briefed by the Commissioner. Are you requiring medical attention? We

have an ambulance on standby.”

“No medical attention, Captain. Just some scrapes,” Marcus