“We are almost there,” Arthur said, his voice calm and steady. “Keep your phone in your pocket, Ava. Do not respond to any of them until I am standing beside you.”

I nodded, watching the dark trees of the suburbs flash past the passenger window.

When we turned onto my parents’ street, the blue and red strobe lights were already piercing the darkness.

The light bounced off the manicured hedges and the wet brick driveway.

Two police cars were parked at odd angles in front of the house, their engines idling.

A white plume of exhaust mixed with the cold night mist.

Arthur parked his car curbside, a few houses down, and killed the engine.

“Let me do the talking,” he said, reaching into the backseat for his umbrella.

We walked quickly down the sidewalk, the cold rain immediately soaking through my canvas sneakers.

A few neighbors stood at the edge of their lawns, shielding their eyes from the flashing lights as they whispered to one another.

Suddenly, the heavy front door of the Parker home swung open.

Two officers in dark raincoats walked out, flanking my brother Brandon.