She told herself the police could simply check things and leave.
But when she dialed 911, her description did not sound like the harmless family gathering it actually was.
"There are a lot of people at the house across from me," Karen said.
The operator asked, "What exactly is happening?"
Karen looked through the curtain again.
"I don't know."
"Is anyone threatening you?"
"No."
"Do you see any weapons?"
"No."
"Is there a fight?"
"No."
"Then what is the emergency?"
Karen paused.
Her eyes remained fixed on the backyard.
"They're acting suspiciously."
The operator asked several more questions.
Karen answered vaguely.
Then she gave the address.
Across the street, Marcus knew nothing about the call.
He was busy placing another tray of food on the table.
"Everybody ready?" he called.
Mia raised her hand.
"Can I have chicken first?"
"You can have whatever you want."
Jordan immediately said, "I want ribs."
"You always want ribs."
"Because ribs are good."
Tasha smiled.
"At least somebody appreciates your cooking."
Marcus lifted his chin.
"Thank you."
Then they heard the distant sound of sirens.
Marcus stopped.
Tasha looked toward the street.
The laughter faded.
A police cruiser appeared at the end of Willow Creek Drive.
Marcus lowered the plate in his hand.
"Is that coming here?"
The cruiser slowed.
Then turned.
And Marcus's stomach dropped.
It was coming toward their house.
The officer pulled up near the curb.
The children stopped playing.
Tasha stepped closer to Marcus.
"What is happening?"
Marcus didn't know.
He only knew one thing.
A family barbecue had somehow become a police matter.
And across the street, behind a closed curtain, Karen Whitman was watching.
The afternoon had changed.
But neither family yet understood how much.
The police cruiser stopped beside the Johnson driveway.
Officer Daniel Reed stepped out.
He was middle-aged, calm, and visibly uncomfortable with the situation.
He had expected something different when dispatch sent him the call.
The information had been vague.
Possible disturbance.
Suspicious gathering.
Concern from a neighbor.
No weapons reported.
No violence reported.
No immediate threat.
Daniel had handled enough calls to recognize uncertainty when he saw it.
He approached the driveway.
Marcus walked forward.
"Officer?"
Daniel raised one hand.
"Good afternoon. I'm Officer Reed."
"Is there a problem?"
Daniel glanced toward the backyard.
"I received a call about a possible disturbance."
Marcus looked genuinely confused.
"A disturbance?"
"That's what was reported."
Tasha stepped beside him.
"We're having a family barbecue."
Daniel nodded.
"I can see that."
Marcus gestured toward the table.
"My wife, our children, my sister, her husband, and a couple of friends."
Daniel looked around.
Everything appeared ordinary.
Children.
Food.
Music.
Adults talking.
No shouting.
No fight.
No damaged property.
No obvious emergency.
He looked back at Marcus.
"Can I ask you a few questions?"
"Sure."
Daniel asked who lived at the house.
Marcus answered.
He asked whether anyone had been injured.
"No."
Whether there had been an argument.
"No."
Whether anyone had threatened anyone.
"No."
Daniel took out his notebook.
"Did you know somebody called?"
Marcus stared at him.
"No."
Daniel glanced across the street.
Karen's house had its curtains closed.
"Your neighbor reported concerns."
Tasha frowned.
"About what?"
Daniel hesitated.
"She described the gathering as suspicious."
Silence.
Marcus looked at Tasha.
Tasha looked at Marcus.
Then Jordan spoke from behind them.
"What's suspicious?"
Marcus immediately said, "Nothing, buddy."
Daniel almost smiled.
"I don't see anything suspicious either."
The officer closed his notebook.
"I'll let dispatch know the situation is calm."
Marcus nodded.
"Thank you."
Daniel turned toward his cruiser.
Then stopped.
"One thing."
Marcus looked at him.
"Yes?"
"If you're planning to have more people arrive, just be mindful of parking."
Marcus looked toward the street.
"Of course."
Daniel walked away.
The Johnson family stood silently for several seconds.
Then Tasha said, "I don't understand."
Marcus rubbed his forehead.
"Neither do I."
Across the street, Karen watched the police cruiser leave.
She had expected something else.
She couldn't explain exactly what.
Perhaps officers would question Marcus more aggressively.
Perhaps they would ask everyone to leave.
Perhaps they would tell the Johnsons to keep the noise down.
Instead, the officer had spoken to them for less than ten minutes.
The gathering continued.
Karen felt frustrated.
She walked into her kitchen and poured herself water.
Her phone rang.
It was her sister.
Karen answered.
"Hello?"
"How's the new neighborhood?"