Chapter 10 - THE BADGE DANIEL REFUSED TO USE
Months later, Daniel encountered Evan unexpectedly at the courthouse hallway.
Evan was out under strict pretrial release.
Daniel was there to testify in an unrelated matter.
They stopped.
Evan looked frightened.
Good.
Then defensive.
“Sergeant.”
Daniel said nothing.
Evan continued:
“You think that badge makes you better than me?”
Daniel felt his hands tighten.
Then relaxed them.
“No.”
Evan almost smiled.
Daniel continued:
“What I do while wearing it matters.”
That wiped the smile away.
Then Evan said:
“You wanted to hit me in that shed.”
“Yes.”
Direct.
“Why didn’t you?”
“Because Claire needed a witness more than she needed revenge.”
Evan looked away.
That was the difference.
Then courthouse security passed.
Moment over.
Daniel walked away.
Later he told Claire.
She stared.
“You admitted you wanted to hit him?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because pretending I didn’t would be stupid.”
Then Daniel said:
“I’ve arrested fathers who ruined cases because they wanted one punch.”
Claire nodded.
“I’m glad you didn’t.”
“So am I.”
Then she hugged him.
May you like
Not because he rescued her.
Because he knew when to stop being rescuer and start being evidence.
