Mrs. Alvarez stepped down from the bus.
“Officer, that is her father.”
The officer looked toward her.
“Ma’am, return to the vehicle.”
“I drive her every day.”
“Please return to the bus.”
“I know Mr. Cole.”
“Back on the bus.”
Mrs. Alvarez stared at him.
Daniel said quietly, “Sophie.”
The little girl looked at him.
“Stay where you are for one second, okay?”
Her eyes filled.
“Are you in trouble?”
“No.”
The officer glanced toward Daniel.
“Sir.”
Daniel ignored him.
“I’m not in trouble.”
Sophie looked toward the police officer.
“Then why is he mad?”
“I’m not mad,” the officer said.
“Yes, you are.”
The children inside the bus had become completely silent.
Daniel felt his heart pounding.
He knew enough about police encounters to understand how quickly tone could become evidence against someone.
He also knew his daughter.
Sophie had lost her mother eighteen months earlier.
Since Hannah’s death, any situation in which Daniel moved unexpectedly away from her could turn fear into panic almost instantly.
He forced his voice to remain calm.
“My wallet is inside my left coat pocket.”
The officer nodded.
“Take it out slowly.”
Daniel did.
He removed his driver’s license.
The officer approached and took it.
His nameplate became visible.
CALEB MERCER.
Daniel looked at the name.
Something inside him tightened.
Mercer.
The officer looked at Daniel’s license.
Then at Sophie.
Then back at the card.
“Her last name?”
“Cole.”
“What was it before?”
Daniel went still.
The question was wrong.
Not procedurally strange.
Personally strange.
Daniel studied the officer’s face.
The reddish hair.
Gray eyes.
A narrow scar near his chin.
He had seen that face before.
Not in person.
In old photographs.
Daniel’s voice changed.
“Mercer.”
The officer looked up.
Daniel stared at him.
“Caleb Mercer?”
The officer’s posture stiffened.
“You know me?”
“No.”
Daniel looked toward Sophie.
Then back at Caleb.
“But I know who your brother is.”
Color disappeared from Caleb’s face.
That was when Sophie ran.
She did not wait for permission.
She ducked around the officer and threw herself against Daniel’s coat.
“Dad!”
Daniel wrapped one arm around her instinctively.
Caleb stepped forward.
“Sir, let go of the child.”
Daniel’s eyes snapped toward him.
“No.”
“Step away from her.”
“She came to me.”
“I said step away.”
Sophie tightened both arms around Daniel’s waist.
“No!”
Caleb reached toward Daniel’s shoulder.
Sophie screamed.
“Don’t touch my dad!”
Daniel turned slightly so his body shielded her.
“Do not put your hands on me in front of her.”