"No, he hasn't hurt me yet."
Yet.
The word hung there.
Marcus felt something cold settle in his chest.
Not fear of Susan.
Fear of the machinery she had just activated.
He looked at the truck.
The case was still within reach.
6 feet.
Maybe less.
One step toward the passenger door and everything could change.
Marcus imagined opening it.
Taking out the badge.
Holding it up.
Ending the misunderstanding before patrol units arrived.
Then he imagined what Susan would learn from that.
That dignity had to be proven by rank.
That safety belonged to people with titles.
That the problem was only that she had chosen the wrong man.
Marcus stayed where he was.
Daniel noticed.
"Marcus, whatever's in that case, maybe now's the time."
Marcus looked at him.
"No."
Daniel frowned.
"They're saying you might be armed."
"I heard."
"Then show her who you are."
Marcus's gaze shifted toward Susan.
"She shouldn't need to know who I am."
Daniel had no answer.
Marcus stepped away from the truck.
3 feet.
Then 5.
He placed himself in the open section of the driveway.
Hands visible.
Body clear.
Nothing behind him but brick wall and sunlight.
He took his phone from his pocket slowly.
Held it up where everyone could see.
Then placed it on the hood of the Ford.
He left his wallet where it was.
Keys stayed in his pocket.
case stayed untouched.
Helen watched him prepare.
Not like a frightened homeowner.
Like someone who understood response tactics from the inside.
She noticed the distance he created from the vehicle.
The angle of his body.
The way his fingers remained open.
Daniel noticed, too.
Susan did not.
She was still speaking into the phone.
"Yes, he's still here."
A pause.
"Yes, I can stay inside."
She didn't go inside.
Instead, she stood at the edge of her lawn and watched Marcus.
The call ended.
The frightened expression vanished immediately.
Her shoulders straightened.
She held the phone at her side.
"They're coming."
Marcus nodded once.
"I know."
Susan seemed almost disappointed by the answer.
"You should have left."
"This is my house."
"You'll explain that to them."
"I will."
She smiled.
Marcus looked toward the end of Hawthorne Lane.
Nothing yet.
But he could almost hear radios already.
Dispatch repeating her description.
Male.
.
Aggressive.
Possibly armed.
He had trained officers for situations like this.