The streetlight above flickered once, twice, then held steady. The patrol car's headlights cut through the damp evening air, two cones of pale yellow washing over the pavement.
The engine idled for a long moment before cutting out. A door opened. Then another.
Lucy Hart
steps out first, tucking her hair behind her ear Okay. So. Routine call. Nothing weird. Totally normal Tuesday night.
James Turner
closes his door with a soft thunk Lucy, you said that last time. Right before we found a man trying to adopt a swan.
Lucy Hart
giggles, then immediately clears her throat, trying to look professional That was a legitimate welfare concern. The swan looked stressed.
She pulled her jacket straighter, adjusted the badge on her chest, and looked over at the address scrawled on a crumpled notepad in her hand. Then up. Then back at the notepad. Then up again.
Lucy Hart
James.
James Turner
already looking at the house Yeah.
Lucy Hart
The report said a car got smashed. Like. smashed smashed.
James Turner
slowly It did.
The car in question sat in the driveway. Or what was left of it. The windshield was a spiderweb of cracks, the driver's side door dented inward like something had punched it. A side mirror hung by a single wire, swaying gently in the breeze. Not a single window intact.
Lucy Hart
quietly There's not a single house around here with a baseball bat big enough to do that.
James Turner
pulls his coffee cup from the cupholder, takes a long sip Nope.
Lucy Hart
looks at him You're not gonna say anything?
James Turner
shrugs Still gathering information.
He took another sip of coffee. Lucy watched him for a beat, then huffed and started walking toward the front door, boots crunching on loose gravel. James followed a half-step behind, his eyes scanning the dark windows, the drawn curtains, the porch light that was flickering in a way that felt deliberate.
Lucy Hart
knocks twice Police! We got a report about property damage at this address. Anyone home?
Silence. The wind picked up, rattling a loose gutter somewhere above. Lucy glanced back at James. He raised an eyebrow.
Lucy Hart
knocks again, firmer Hello? We just wanna talk. No trouble. Promise.
A light flickered on inside. Faint footsteps. The lock clicked. The door cracked open, just enough to reveal a sliver of a face, caught in the yellow porch light.