Some were reaching for towels.
Micah moved toward one near the shallow end.
Pierce barked, “Stay over there.”
Micah stopped.
“I’m cold.”
“You should’ve thought about that before.”
Jordan stared.
“He got out because you told him to.”
Pierce ignored him.
Cameron whispered something to Micah.
Both boys laughed nervously.
Pierce heard it.
“What’s funny?”
Neither answered.
“I asked you a question.”
Jordan stepped between them.
“They’re nervous.”
Pierce looked at Jordan.
“If you're the one supervising, then control them.”
“They were controlled until you came in.”
Daniel closed his eyes briefly.
He could feel the conversation getting worse.
Pierce pointed toward the far side of the patio.
“Everybody against the wall.”
Leah stared.
“We didn’t do anything.”
“Move.”
“Why?”
“Because I said so.”
Two younger children stayed near the lounge chairs because their sandals were there.
Pierce noticed the garden hose.
Daniel saw him looking at it.
“Randall.”
Pierce picked it up.
Daniel stepped forward.
“Don't.”
Pierce twisted the nozzle.
“Last warning.”
Jordan’s face changed.
“You’re not seriously going to spray them.”
Pierce raised the hose.
“Move away from the pool.”
Leah crossed her arms.
“No.”
The water hit her.
She screamed.
Pierce swept the nozzle sideways.
Cameron took the stream across the face.
Paige slipped backward.
Micah jumped away.
Jordan shouted, “What the hell are you doing?”
“Language!”
“They’re kids!”
Pierce turned the stream.
Jordan took it across his chest.
Daniel grabbed for the hose.
“Enough.”
Pierce pulled away.
“Get off me.”
“No one is threatening us.”
“They won’t follow instructions.”
“They’re children.”
“Move.”
Pierce threw the hose down.
Daniel thought the worst had passed.
He was wrong.
Pierce walked toward the folding table.
The food covered almost every inch.
Fruit.
Pizza.
Brownies.
Cupcakes.
Candy.
Juice.
Jordan watched him.
“What now?”
Pierce pointed toward the table.
“Whose mess is this?”
Leah wiped water from her face.
“It’s our food.”
Pierce shook his head.
“You’ve got rules being broken everywhere.”
“What rules?”
Jordan asked.
“Don’t get smart.”
“There’s no alcohol.”
Jordan’s voice rose.
“No drugs.”
“No weapons.”
“Nobody’s hurt.”
“What are you even looking for?”
Pierce turned.
“You don’t decide when this is over.”
Then he shoved the table.
The children screamed.
Daniel stared at him.
“Randall.”
Pierce said nothing.
Leah looked at the ruined cupcakes.
“Why?”
Pierce pointed toward the sliding door.
“Inside.”
Jordan stepped directly into his path.
“No.”
Pierce stared.
“What did you say?”
“You’re not going inside.”
“I need to check the residence.”
“There’s nothing wrong inside.”
“That isn't your call.”
“It’s our house.”
Pierce stepped closer.
“Your father isn't here.”
Jordan’s face hardened.
“Still our house.”
“No mother here either.”
Jordan went completely still.
Everyone in the family knew the sentence hurt before Pierce finished it.
Renee Hayes had been dead for three years.
Pierce did not know.
That made it no less cruel.
“And right now,” Pierce continued, “I’m the adult in charge.”
Daniel looked at him.
“Randall.”
Jordan’s hands curled.
Not to punch him.
Pure anger.
Daniel noticed.
“Jordan, relax your hands.”
Jordan turned toward him.
“He sprayed my brother.”
“I know.”
“He made Paige fall.”
“I know.”
“He destroyed our stuff.”
“I know.”
“You’re police too.”
Daniel had no good answer.
“I’m trying to keep this from getting worse.”
Jordan laughed once.
“It already is.”
Pierce reached toward the sliding door.
Jordan blocked him again.
Pierce put one hand on his shoulder.
“Move.”
“No.”
“You want cuffs?”
“For what?”
“Obstruction.”
“For not letting you search my house?”
Daniel moved between them.
“Randall, stop.”
Pierce looked at him.
“We’re checking inside.”
“No, we’re not.”
“I’m senior.”
“That doesn’t give us cause.”
Pierce’s face hardened.
“Move.”
Daniel stayed where he was.
That was the moment a gray Chevrolet Tahoe turned into the driveway.
Marcus Hayes noticed the police cruiser first.
Then the open side gate.
Then a little girl wrapped in a towel standing near the driveway.
He recognized Paige.
Marcus hit the brakes hard.
A bag of hamburger buns slid onto the floor.
He climbed out.
“Paige?”
She ran toward him.
“Mr. Hayes.”
Her face was wet from crying.
Marcus’s stomach tightened.
“What happened?”
“Police came in.”
“Where are Jordan and the others?”
“Back there.”
“Anybody hurt?”
“Cameron fell.”
“They sprayed us.”
Marcus stared.
“Sprayed you with what?”
“The hose.”
For half a second, he thought he had misunderstood.
Then he heard shouting from the backyard.
Marcus handed Paige his phone.
“Call your mother.”
“Tell her you’re okay.”
Then he walked through his own gate.
The first thing he saw was watermelon on the concrete.
Then broken glass.
Then Leah crying beside Micah.
Then Jordan standing between Officer Pierce and the back door.
“Dad.”
Everyone turned.
Marcus looked first at the children.
“Anybody injured?”
Jordan shook his head.
“Nothing serious.”
Leah pointed toward Pierce.
“He sprayed us.”
Marcus looked at the hose.
Then the overturned table.
Then Pierce.
“What happened?”
Pierce stepped forward.
“We received a welfare complaint regarding minors around a swimming pool without adult supervision.”
Marcus looked at Jordan.
“You were here the whole time?”
“Yes.”
“How many friends?”
“Nine.”
“Any alcohol?”
“No.”
“Weapons?”
“No.”
“Fight?”
“No.”
“Anyone in trouble in the water?”
“No.”
Marcus turned toward Daniel.
“Officer?”
Daniel answered.
“No reported drowning.”
“No injury on arrival.”
Pierce cut in.
“Sir, we’re still conducting our check.”
Marcus raised one hand.
“Did you enter through my side gate?”
“Yes.”
“Did anyone invite you?”
“No.”
“We were responding to—”
Marcus interrupted.
“That answered it.”
Pierce’s eyes narrowed.
“Sir, children around a pool can create exigent circumstances.”
“Can.”
Marcus nodded.
“What did you observe that made this one an exigency?”
“The children were unsupervised.”
“My sixteen-year-old was here.”
“He’s a minor.”
“Yes.”
Marcus looked at him.
“That does not automatically make the gathering unlawful.”
Pierce crossed his arms.
“I don't know who you are—”
“Good.”
Pierce stopped.
Everyone looked at Marcus.
He continued.
“Because who I am has nothing to do with whether you had the legal right to enter my property.”
Marcus removed his wallet.
“Here.”
Pierce took the license.
Marcus Anthony Hayes.
214 Birchwood Lane.
The address matched.
Pierce was about to hand it back when another credential became visible behind the license.