Good. Wendell pulled away from the curb. Same thing tomorrow. But tomorrow was different.
At 6:02 a.m. on Friday, Tull's patrol car was parked inside the Collier Ridge subdivision, idling at the corner of Windham Lane in Birfield Court. He was not responding to a call. There was no dispatch record for his presence. He was sitting, engine running, watching the pedestrian gate.
Micah entered at 5:21 a.m. Tull did not move. Micah delivered his first eight papers. Tull watched. Micah reached house number nine, the house directly across from Tull's cruiser, and placed the paper on the doorstep.
Hold up. Tull's voice came from the open car window. He did not get out. He did not activate his lights.
He just spoke loud enough to carry across the empty street. Micah stopped. He turned. He did not raise his hands this time.
His hands were full. One held a newspaper. The other held the satchel strap. You again?
Yes, sir. You know, I could cite you for loitering. I'm delivering newspapers, sir. I have a contract with the register.
At 5 in the morning in a residential area, going door-to-door Tull opened the car door and stepped out. He was in full uniform. The body camera was on. The red light blinked.
That's solicitation. Collier County municipal code. Newspaper delivery is exempt from solicitation ordinances under Georgia law. Sir, the sentence sat in the air between them.