“Maybe you should stop acting like you know how these things work.”
David looked at her for a long moment.
Then he placed both hands on the edge of the barbecue table.
“Officer, I have guests here. My daughter just graduated. I'm willing to cooperate, but I won't let you turn her celebration into a spectacle.”
Reed's jaw tightened.
“You think you're in charge here?”
“No.”
“Then act like it.”
The music had stopped.
One of David's relatives had quietly lowered the volume.
Several guests were now standing near the patio, watching the exchange.
Sophia returned to her father's side.
“Dad, what's happening?”
David gave her a reassuring smile.
“Nothing you need to worry about.”
But before he could say anything else, a deep engine noise interrupted the conversation.
Everyone turned toward the street.
A black luxury SUV was approaching.
It moved slowly past the parked cars before pulling directly beside the curb.
The vehicle stopped.
Its windows were tinted.
The engine remained running for a moment.
Then the driver's door opened.
A woman stepped out.
She wore an elegant royal-blue suit, a white blouse, and black high heels. Her dark hair fell neatly over her shoulders. She carried a slim leather briefcase in one hand.
She looked toward the backyard.
Then she saw David.
She stopped walking.
For the first time that afternoon, her composed expression cracked.
“David?”
David turned.
The tongs slipped from his hand and landed on the metal table.
His face had gone completely still.
“Victoria?”
Sophia looked between them.
“Dad… you know her?”
Victoria closed the SUV door.
She walked toward the gate, her heels striking the pavement.
Officer Reed turned toward her.
“Ma'am, this is a private residence. You need to stay outside.”
Victoria didn't stop.
“I know exactly whose residence this is.”
Reed stepped into her path.
“I'm conducting an investigation.”
Victoria looked at her uniform.
Then at the badge on her chest.
“Officer, what is your name?”
“Vanessa Reed.”
Victoria nodded.
“Officer Reed, step aside.”
Reed's eyebrows rose.
“Excuse me?”
Victoria opened her briefcase.
“I said step aside.”
She removed a dark identification credential and held it at chest level.
Officer Miller glanced at it.
His expression changed immediately.
He looked at the woman again.
Then at David.
Then back at the credential.
“Ma'am…”
Reed frowned.
“What?”
Miller lowered his voice.
“Officer Reed, I think you should look at that.”
Victoria held the credential closer.
The official seal was unmistakable.
But what made Miller's face turn pale was the title printed beneath her photograph.
VICTORIA CARTER
DEPUTY DIRECTOR — OFFICE OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Reed stared at it.
For a moment, she seemed unable to process what she was seeing.
Then she looked at David.
“Carter?”
David didn't answer.
Victoria closed the briefcase.
“That's right.”
She turned toward the police officers.
“And before either of you says another word, I want to know why two officers are interrogating my brother during his daughter's graduation celebration.”
Sophia's eyes widened.
“Your… brother?”
David looked at Victoria.