"A little."
"That good?"
"Maybe."
"Maybe?"
"Could mean fewer problems. Could mean fewer people filing. We watch other indicators too."
Jennings nodded approvingly.
"Good."
Marcus laughed. "Was that a test?"
"Everything's a test, Captain."
Marcus recognized the phrase Deputy Chief Morrison had used on his first morning. He wondered whether all older men eventually started sharing dialogue. Jennings looked toward the Civic.
"You know, I nearly sold that thing after I got it back."
"Why didn't you?"
"Spite."
Marcus nearly spilled his coffee.
"That's not what I expected you to say."
"Every time I drove it past the police station, I wanted whoever had done that to me to know I still had it."
"Reigns was already arrested by then."
"Didn't matter. I knew."
The old man grew quiet.
"I used to think justice would feel like somebody apologizing exactly right. Then I thought it would feel like seeing him in handcuffs. Then I thought it would be getting the money back. None of it felt the way I expected."
Marcus waited.
"What did?"
Jennings looked at him.
"The first time I filed a complaint about something else and a stranger called me the next day to say they got it. Wasn't even a police complaint. City trash service busted my bin. But somebody answered."
Marcus smiled.