Voss walked toward the house with measured, unhurried steps, his polished shoes quiet against the concrete walkway. His gaze settled on the credentials still visible in the sister's hands, and something flickered across his face for just a moment, there and gone, too fast for most people to catch. Norah caught it anyway. It looked like recognition. These weren't fake badges.
He knew that immediately. Whatever else Warren Voss was, he wasn't a stupid man. And stupid men didn't make lieutenant in a department this size. Hutchkins moved to intercept him halfway up the walkway. Lieutenant, these women claimed to be FBI agents, but I think Voss held up one hand, silencing him mid-sentence.
The same easy authority he probably used on every officer under his command. He stepped closer to the porch, his expression carefully neutral. "Special agents Whitfield, " he said, his voice formal, almost courteous. "I'm Lieutenant Warren Voss, precinct commander. " Norah nodded once, saying nothing yet, waiting to see where this went.
Voss's eyes moved between the two sisters and the open door behind them. We received a call reporting suspicious activity at this address. My officers responded appropriately to investigate. Now I need to verify that you have legitimate authority to be on this property. Vivien's eyebrows lifted slightly.
We live here. I'll need proof of that claim. Vivien pulled out her phone again, finger swiping across the screen. She turned the device toward Voss, showing him a digital document. Official seals, county recording stamps, everything a lieutenant would know how to read at a glance.
Property deed, she said calm, unhurried. Recorded with the county. Current mortgage holder, First National Bank. Property taxes paid through December. Voss leaned forward slightly, studying the screen.
The document was thorough, legitimate. The Whitfield name printed clearly beside the exact address of the house behind them. Behind him. Hutchkins shifted his weight, uneasy. That could be forged, too.
Digital documents are easy to fake. Voss didn't answer him right away. He glanced past the sisters toward the open front door toward the small black camera housing tucked under the porch. Eve, his eyes lingered there for just a beat too long. Lieutenant Vivien said, watching him watch the camera.