“My wallet is inside.”
“Go get it.”
She looked toward him.
“You can wait outside the gate.”
Reed’s jaw tightened.
“I’m already here.”
“Yes.”
Simone remained calm.
“And I’m asking you to step back outside while I get it.”
The distinction mattered to her.
He had entered private property without first knocking.
She wanted the interaction moved somewhere clear.
Reed did not move.
“Is there a reason you don’t want me back here?”
Talia arrived beside her sister.
Simone looked at Reed.
“The reason is this is my backyard.”
“That isn’t what I asked.”
“It’s the answer.”
Reed glanced at Talia.
“You live here too?”
“Yes.”
“ID?”
Talia folded her arms.
“What crime are you investigating?”
Reed looked at her.
“Did I say there was a crime?”
“No.”
“Then stop acting like you’re being accused.”
Several guests exchanged looks.
Talia almost smiled.
“You asked for both our IDs inside our own yard after walking through the gate without permission.”
“I’m verifying who belongs here.”
Simone heard the phrase.
Her face went still.
“Who belongs here?”
Reed realized how it sounded.
“Who is authorized to be on the property.”
“I own the property.”
“Which I’m verifying.”
“You can verify county records from your car.”
Reed became impatient.
“Ma’am, I’m trying to handle a complaint.”
“What exactly did the caller complain about?”
He did not answer directly.
“Large gathering. Possible unauthorized occupancy.”
Simone stared.
“Occupancy?”
“Gathering.”
“You said occupancy.”
Reed shifted.
“There’s no reason to make this difficult.”
That sentence caused three different guests to begin recording.
Simone noticed phones rising around the yard.
So did Reed.
He pointed toward one man.
“Put that down.”
The man answered, “I’m standing on private property.”
Reed looked toward Simone.
“Tell your guests to back up.”
Nobody had moved toward him.
Simone said so.
Reed looked around.
The nearest guest other than Talia stood almost ten feet away.
He appeared to notice the distance only after she said it.
Then his attention shifted toward the house.
“I need to take a look inside.”
Simone blinked.
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because you do not have permission.”
“I have a report concerning unauthorized people at the residence.”
“You have spoken to the homeowner.”
“I have someone claiming to be the homeowner.”
Simone stared at him.
That was the moment something changed for Talia.
Not the request for identification.
Not the call itself.
That sentence.
Someone claiming to be the homeowner.
Talia looked toward the large brick house.
Then toward Reed.