"Mr. Johnson?"
Marcus walked forward.
"Yes."
"Can we talk to you?"
"Sure."
The officer glanced toward the backyard.
"We received a call about a suspicious gathering."
Marcus stared at him.
For a moment, he didn't understand.
Then he laughed once.
Not because it was funny.
Because his brain didn't know what else to do.
"A suspicious gathering?"
"That's what the call reported."
Marcus looked at the picnic table.
His children.
His wife.
His relatives.
The food.
The balloons.
Then he looked back at the officer.
"This is my family."
The officer nodded.
"I understand."
"No," Marcus said quietly. "I don't think you do."
Nobody moved.
Mia stood beside her mother.
Jordan held the half-eaten watermelon slice he had been defending ten minutes earlier.
Tasha looked at the officers.
One of them was a young woman named Officer Emily Carter.
The other was Officer Daniel Brooks, a veteran officer who had spent twelve years in law enforcement.
Neither looked aggressive.
Neither had raised a weapon.
But their presence had changed the atmosphere completely.
Marcus noticed his daughter's face.
She looked frightened.
He crouched beside her.
"It's okay."
"Did we do something wrong?"
"No."
"Why are the police here?"
Marcus glanced at Tasha.
Then back at Mia.
"Someone called them."
"Why?"
Marcus didn't know how to answer.
Officer Carter approached carefully.
"Mr. Johnson, we're not here to cause trouble."
"Then why are you here?"
"We received a complaint."
"About what?"
"A suspicious gathering."
Marcus gave a humorless smile.
"There are hamburgers on the grill."
Officer Brooks glanced toward the table.
"I can see that."
"My children are playing."
"I can see that too."
"My wife is serving lemonade."
"I understand."
Marcus stood.
"So what exactly is suspicious?"
The officers exchanged a brief glance.
Officer Carter spoke.
"We're trying to establish whether there's any actual disturbance."
"There isn't."
"Any weapons?"
"No."
"Any fighting?"
"No."
"Any threats?"