“Well, I’m glad the deer and squirrels are safe now.”
Officer White’s expression turned dark. “Step out of the car, ma’am.”
“Pardon?”
“I said step out of the vehicle.”
“I don’t understand—”
“I’m not gonna ask again, ma’am.”
Liv let out a loud, exasperated breath, and slowly climbed out of the car. “This is harassment,” she said.
The officer—she was a good six inches shorter than Liv—made a sour face. “Harassment? You don’t have a clue what real harassment is.”
Something about the way the officer said it sent another jolt through Liv. She looked around. Just the winding road and grassland.
“Look,” Liv said, her tone conciliatory. “We got off on the wrong—”
“Shut up,” the cop said. “Turn around and put your hands on the vehicle.”
“You can’t be serious. You’re not actually going to—”
Liv’s breath was taken from her as the officer spun her around and shoved her against the hood.
“Hands on the car!”
Liv complied. The officer’s hands ran up and down her body, roughly frisking her.
“Hands behind your back.”
She wasn’t really going to handcuff her? Liv was breathing heavily, thoughts reeling. She put her hands behind her back and flinched when the hard metal hit her wrists.
“Ow, you’re hurting me,” she said as the officer clicked the cuffs too tight.
“Turn around.”
Liv turned slowly. The two women’s eyes met. Was she really going to arrest Liv? She couldn’t possibly. It would be all over the news: COP WHO COERCED WRONGFUL CONFESSION FROM DANNY PINE ARRESTS MOTHER WITHOUT CAUSE. Liv felt acid rise from her stomach. It wasn’t happenstance that the officer was on this road. She must have heard Liv was in town.
Lying in wait.
If that was the case, maybe she had no intention of arresting Liv. She felt a trickle of sweat roll down her side.
Then, a sign of hope. Up the road, an old Humvee, one of those weird military trucks, headed toward them. Liv recognized it—her father’s friend and neighbor, Glen Elmore. A quirky vehicle for a quirky man. Liv’s dad was always a sucker for people who bucked convention.
The cop looked over her shoulder at the Humvee, which was taking the curve fast. Something about that section of asphalt inspired a heavy foot.
Turning back to Liv, the cop said, “When an officer asks you to do something, you best do it.” She had deep wrinkles around her mouth and lining her forehead, too many for a woman her age.
“That hasn’t worked out so well for my family.” Liv felt anger in her chest. She shouldn’t have said it, but Glen’s truck was getting close. He’d surely recognize Liv, stop to see what was going on.
Officer White stepped into Liv’s personal space. She smelled of cigarettes and sour coffee. “At least you still have a family. Sampson’s wife and kids aren’t so lucky.”
Sampson. This wasn’t just about how the documentary had skewered White’s reputation; it was about the death—the suicide—of her partner, Ron Sampson. The news speculated that it was the pressure from being villainized in the documentary. The calls and threats to the station house. The public shaming.
Mercifully, Glen’s Humvee pulled behind Liv’s rental.
“Get back in your vehicle,” White called to Glen as he climbed out of the tanklike cabin.
“Olivia, I heard you were in town. It’s good to see you, dear,” Glen said, ignoring White. “How’s your dad?”
Liv smiled. “He’s okay. Getting himself into some trouble at the home.”
Glen smiled back. “As I’d expect. I need to get over to see him. It’s been too long.” He turned to the cop. “Wendy White, what in the Sam Hill are you doin’？”
“I said get back in your vehicle, Glen.”
“Young lady, I knew your daddy when you were a glint in his eye, so don’t you tell me what to do.”
White’s mouth turned to a slit. “This is police business.”
“Like hell. Uncuff her before you ruin what’s left of your career. For Pete’s sake.” Glen shook his head. “I’d hate to call Sheriff Graham.”
White drew in a breath, bunched her face. She yanked the keys from her belt and unlocked the handcuffs.
Liv massaged her wrists, which were red from the shackles.
The officer walked angrily to her patrol car without saying a word. She revved the engine, then tore off, throwing dirt in the air.