This is my home. She said. I can show you the deed. Ma'am, we received a report of a trespassing incident at this address. Dutton's voice had the particular flatness of someone reading from a script he'd memorized so long ago it had stopped meaning anything.
I'm going to need you to step away from the pool area and identify yourself. I just identified myself. My name is Serena Cole. I own this property. I've owned it since March.
Do you have ID on you? I'm in a swimsuit, officer. Is there someone inside who can verify? My daughter is inside. She's 16.
I'm not going to ask her to come out here and verify that I live in my own house. Something moved across Webb's face. He wrote something in his notebook. Dutton didn't look at him. The side gate opened again.
Howard Parrish crossed the yard with the easy confidence of a man who felt he'd been proven right about something. He was wearing a fleece jacket and his hands were in his pockets. And he nodded at Dutton like they'd already established an understanding. "That's her. " he said, gesturing at Serena with his chin. "Didn't recognize her.
This property's been in the Harmon family for 20 years. Nobody told me it sold. " "Mr. Parish. " Serena said, turning to him, her voice even, "The property sold in March. I can show you the closing documents if you'd like. They're public record. " Parish looked at her the way people look at a screen that isn't loading properly, not quite understanding why it won't just cooperate.
Then he looked away from her entirely. Looked at Dutton as if she hadn't spoken. "She appeared out of nowhere. " he said to Dutton. "Middle of the morning. You understand my concern. " "So, of course. " Dutton said to Parish.
Serena watched this exchange, said nothing. Then Parish turned slightly to his left, toward the neighbor on the other side, a man named Greg Foley, who had drifted to the fence line with his phone already up recording, and said it quietly, the way people say things they want heard, but want deniable see told you property values were going to drop. Serena heard it. Every syllable. The steam kept rising off the pool behind her, indifferent.
She closed her eyes for exactly 1 second. Then she opened them and looked back at Dutton, who had taken a step closer. "On your knees. " he said. "I'm sorry. Knees.