“You weren't supposed to come.”
Victoria's expression softened for just a second.
“I know.”
Then she turned back toward Reed.
“But apparently, I arrived at exactly the right time.”
Reed straightened her uniform.
“Ma'am, we were responding to a neighborhood complaint.”
Victoria nodded.
“Then I suggest you show me the complaint.”
“That's not necessary.”
Victoria's expression became cold.
“I'm not asking whether it's necessary.”
She reached into her briefcase again and removed a second document.
“I'm asking because the complaint you received was filed under a name that has already been associated with three separate false reports.”
Officer Miller looked at her.
“Ma'am, what reports?”
Victoria placed the document on the barbecue table.
“Reports used to target military families, federal employees, and witnesses involved in an ongoing corruption investigation.”
David stared at her.
“Victoria…”
She looked at him.
“I didn't want to bring this into your daughter's celebration.”
“Then don't.”
Victoria paused.
For a moment, the two siblings looked at each other.
There was history between them.
Something painful.
Something neither wanted to discuss in front of the guests.
But Victoria's attention returned to Officer Reed.
“Unfortunately, Officer, this is no longer a routine noise complaint.”
Reed's face tightened.
“Are you accusing me of something?”
“I'm asking you to explain why your department received a complaint about this address less than twenty minutes after an internal investigation requested that my brother's location remain confidential.”
Miller looked alarmed.
“Confidential?”
Victoria nodded.
“Very confidential.”
David slowly stepped away from the grill.
“Victoria, what is going on?”
She didn't answer.
Instead, she looked at Reed.
“Who assigned you to this call?”
Reed hesitated.
“Dispatch.”
“Which supervisor?”
“Lieutenant Harris.”
Victoria looked toward Miller.
“And you?”
“I was assigned as backup.”
“Did you know the caller's identity?”
“No, ma'am.”
“Did you verify the complaint before approaching the homeowner?”
Miller shook his head.
“No, ma'am.”
Victoria looked back at Reed.
“Did you?”
Reed's silence was answer enough.
Victoria picked up the document.
“Interesting.”
She turned to David.
“Did she ask you whether you were armed?”
“No.”
“Did she explain the legal basis for demanding that you shut down the gathering?”
“No.”
“Did she tell you what specific ordinance you were suspected of violating?”
David shook his head.
“No.”
Victoria closed the briefcase.
“Then we have a problem.”
Reed's face turned red.
“Ma'am, I don't appreciate being questioned in front of civilians.”
Victoria looked at her.
“Neither does the man you just questioned in front of thirty guests.”
Nobody spoke.
The woman in the blue suit turned toward the crowd.
“I apologize for the disruption. This celebration belongs to Sophia, and it should never have become an occasion for anyone to feel intimidated in their own home.”
Sophia looked at her father.
David seemed more confused than relieved.
“Victoria,” he said quietly. “Can we talk?”
She nodded.
“Of course.”
But before they could move, a black sedan pulled up behind the SUV.
Two men in dark suits stepped out.
One approached Victoria and whispered something into her ear.