“No.”
The word was quiet.
“What?”
“She wasn’t suspicious.”
Hutchkins took a step toward him. “Watch yourself.”
Brennan’s voice shook, but he kept going. “She was carrying groceries. Her license matched the house. You said you wanted to check the address before we even turned onto Elmwood.”
“You misunderstood.”
“You said, ‘That woman still thinks she owns the street.’”
A silence fell.
Morrison looked sharply at Brennan. “When did he say that?”
“About ten minutes before we got here.”
Hutchkins’s face flushed. “That’s not the exact wording.”
Brennan looked away for a moment, then back. “It’s close enough that the dash audio will settle it.”
For the first time, Hutchkins appeared afraid of equipment he normally trusted.
Morrison saw it.
“Your body camera,” she said. “Is it active?”
Hutchkins’s hand moved automatically toward his chest.
The camera indicator was dark.
“It malfunctioned.”
Brennan spoke again. “No, it didn’t.”
Hutchkins turned slowly.
“I saw you switch it off before you walked up the driveway.”
Morrison’s expression changed.
“What exactly did you see?”
“He tapped the control twice. I thought maybe he was checking the battery. Then the indicator went dark.”
Hutchkins shook his head violently. “He’s covering himself.”
“Officer Brennan,” Morrison said, “do not discuss this further with Officer Hutchkins. You’ll give Internal Affairs a recorded statement.”
“Yes, Sergeant.”
The approaching sirens were audible now.
Imani looked toward the end of the street.
A black city SUV appeared first, moving fast but without emergency lights. It stopped partly in the driveway. James was out before the driver had fully straightened the wheel.
He had removed his suit jacket somewhere between City Hall and Elmwood Drive. His tie hung loose. His sleeves were rolled to the forearms. He crossed the yard quickly and went directly to his wife.
He did not look at Hutchkins.
Not yet.
He looked at Imani’s wrists.
Then at her soaked blouse.
Then at the broken phone in her hand.
“Are you hurt?”
“I don’t think seriously.”
“Your shoulder?”
“It hit the car.”
James’s jaw tightened.
Imani saw the political leader struggling with the husband. She squeezed his hand.
“Stay calm.”