“Why?”
“Because I am Chief Judge Evelyn Carter of the United States District Court for this
district.”
The street went silent. Even the birds seemed to pause.
Officer Reed went pale. He had seen her name on warrants and consent decrees. Harlan’s
mind struggled to make the pieces fit. “You’re lying,” he stammered.
“That is a dangerous theory to test with handcuffs,” Evelyn smiled thinly.
Reed lunged for his radio. “Dispatch, Unit 2-14 requesting a supervisor at Briar Glen
Lane. Code four, but immediate supervisor response needed.”
The wait lasted six excruciating minutes. Six minutes of neighbors like Marjorie Bell
peering from behind drawn curtains, watching as Harlan stood frozen at the edge of the
walkway. Evelyn simply picked up her coffee. It had gone lukewarm, but she drank it