After he explained what happened, they canvassed the street, checking doorbell cameras and nearby CCTV. Watching them work made the situation feel less like a misunderstanding and more like something slipping beyond his control. When they returned, their demeanor had shifted.
One officer held a tablet, the screen paused on an image that made Evan’s pulse stutter. Lara had run out of the back door barefoot, shaking, dropping to her knees beside the house as though trying to breathe through sheer panic. She searched her pockets—realizing her phone wasn’t with her.