Maya looked at Keller.
The sergeant said nothing.
Then his radio crackled.
A detective's voice came through.
"Unit Twelve, status?"
Keller pressed the button.
"Scene secured."
"Any property recovered?"
Keller glanced at Harold.
"Negative."
"Then why are you still there?"
Keller looked uncomfortable.
"We encountered complications."
"Explain."
Keller did not answer immediately.
Harold watched him.
Then the radio crackled again.
"Sergeant Keller, do not remove anything from the residence."
Everyone froze.
Keller looked at the radio.
"Repeat."
"Do not remove anything."
Maya looked at Harold.
He appeared unsurprised.
Keller lowered the radio.
"Who was that?"
Harold finally answered.
"Someone who actually read the file."
Keller stared at him.
"What file?"
"The one you should have read before coming here."
The officers left the house several minutes later.
Harold stood at the doorway watching their vehicles disappear.
Maya was the last to leave.
She stopped.
"I'm sorry."
Harold looked at her.
"For what?"
"For what happened."
He studied her face.
"You didn't make the decision."
"No."
"But you were there."
Maya lowered her eyes.
"Yes."
Harold nodded.
"Then remember what you saw."
She looked up.
"What do you mean?"
"Because someday someone may ask."
Then he closed the door.
Maya walked toward the patrol car.
She did not know that within forty-eight hours, she would be asked exactly what happened inside that house.
And this time, there would be no sergeant standing beside her to tell her what to say.
The following morning, Maya Lopez sat alone in a small conference room.
Across from her were two investigators from the department's professional standards division.
A digital recorder sat between them.
One investigator opened a folder.
"Officer Lopez, we're reviewing the incident at Harold Newman's residence."
Maya nodded.
"Yes, sir."
"Did Sergeant Keller possess a search warrant?"
"No."
"Did Mr. Newman consent to the search?"
"No."
"Did he clearly refuse?"
"Several times."
The investigator wrote something down.
"Did he resist arrest?"
"No."
"Did he threaten any officer?"
"No."
"Did he attempt to destroy evidence?"
"No."
The second investigator leaned forward.
"Then why was he handcuffed?"
Maya hesitated.
"I don't know."
"Think carefully."
"I believe Sergeant Keller considered him obstructive."
"Did you agree?"
"No."
The investigator looked at her.
"Why not?"
Maya took a breath.
"Because he was standing inside his own doorway asking for a warrant."
Silence.
Then the door opened.
A department attorney entered.
He carried another folder.
He placed it on the table.
"We have a problem."
Maya looked at him.
"What problem?"
The attorney opened the folder.
"Harold Newman isn't simply a former federal employee."
He removed a document.
"He is currently attached to a federal investigative task force."
Maya's stomach tightened.
The attorney continued.
"And the burglary investigation appears to overlap with an ongoing federal case."
Maya stared at the papers.
"Then why did local officers go to his house?"
"We don't know."
"Who requested it?"
"We're trying to find out."
The room became silent again.
Then the attorney said something that changed everything.
"The burglary may have been staged."
Maya looked up.
"Staged?"
"Possibly."
"What does that mean?"
"It means someone may have wanted local officers to enter Harold Newman's house."
Maya's heart sank.