“Mom, I promise I didn’t do anything else.”
I squeezed his hand.
“I believe you.”
Ten minutes later, the patrol car stopped on Oak Street.
Right outside Maya’s house.
A second police vehicle was parked in the driveway.
Several people stood near the porch.
And among them was a tall man in a formal police uniform.
He held his cap in his hands.
It was Maya’s father.
Part 4: The surprise that brought everyone together
Maya’s father, Nathan Lin, was a longtime police lieutenant.
I knew he worked in law enforcement, but I had never met him while he was wearing his dress uniform.
He approached Julian with an expression I couldn’t quite read.
“Julian Vance?”
My son nodded.
“Yes, sir.”
Nathan looked at him for a long moment.
Then he extended his hand.
“I’ve been hoping to meet you properly.”
Julian shook it nervously.
