Caleb stared toward the street.
“He said he wanted to see his daughter.”
“She is not legally his daughter anymore.”
“He said Daniel was keeping her from him.”
Daniel’s restraint finally cracked.
“He disappeared for fourteen months before the adoption.”
Caleb looked at him.
Daniel continued.
“He missed birthdays. Medical appointments. Every scheduled supervised visit for six months.”
“That’s not what he told me.”
“No.”
Daniel gave a bitter laugh.
“I imagine it isn’t.”
Caleb’s face reddened.
Daniel stepped closer, still holding Sophie’s hand.
“Did he tell you why the supervised visits were ordered?”
Silence.
“Did he tell you why Hannah left him?”
“Daniel,” Rebecca warned gently.
“No.”
He shook his head.
“He came here.”
“He came to my daughter’s bus stop wearing a badge because Luke told him I stole Sophie.”
Caleb looked toward the ground.
Daniel continued.
“Did he tell you about the night he drove with her in the car after drinking?”
Caleb’s head lifted.
“What?”
There it was.
Daniel knew.
“He didn’t.”
Caleb frowned.
“What are you talking about?”
Rebecca closed her eyes briefly.
Daniel stared at him.
“Sophie was two.”
Sophie looked up.
Daniel immediately regretted speaking in front of her.
Rebecca crouched again.
“Sophie, why don’t you sit with Mrs. Alvarez for a minute?”
“No.”
“I’m staying with Dad.”
Daniel squeezed her hand.
“It’s okay.”
“No.”
He knew that tone.
He would not force her.
“Fine.”
Daniel looked at Caleb.
“Not here.”
Caleb seemed to understand.
He stepped backward.
Rebecca spoke.
“Officer Mercer, you are relieved from this interaction.”
“What?”
“Return to your vehicle.”
“Sergeant—”
“Now.”
Caleb looked at her.
Then Daniel.
Then Sophie.
For the first time since approaching them, his expression lost certainty.
He looked frightened.
He returned to his patrol car.
Rebecca waited until the door closed.
Then turned toward Daniel.
“I’m sorry.”
Daniel looked at her.
“You don’t owe me the apology.”
“I’m his supervisor.”
“You didn’t tell him to come here.”
“No.”
“Did you know he was Luke’s brother?”
Rebecca hesitated.
“Yes.”
Daniel stared.
“You knew?”
“When he transferred six months ago.”
“And you never told me?”
“It wasn’t my information to volunteer.”
Daniel’s anger shifted.
“You knew Luke was back in contact with him?”
“No.”
“That seems like information someone should have noticed.”
“You’re right.”
Daniel looked toward the patrol car.
“What happens now?”
Rebecca’s jaw tightened.
“Now I find out why an officer used department resources in a private family dispute.”