CHAPTER 2 — THE OFFICER WHO REMEMBERED

Officer Daniel Keller entered the diner without hurrying.

He was fifty-one now, heavier than Arthur remembered, but the narrow eyes and familiar half-smile hadn’t changed.

“What seems to be the problem?”

Mason spread his arms.

“This old guy grabbed me.”

Arthur remained beside Titan.

The waitress stepped forward.

“He poured water on the dog first.”

Keller barely looked at her.

“Anybody hurt?”

“No,” Mason answered.

Arthur said, “I’d like to make a complaint.”

Keller turned.

“About what?”

“The harassment. And the fact that he reached for my dog after I told him to leave us alone.”

Mason laughed.

“You serious?”

Arthur didn’t look at him.

“Officer, I’d also like the incident number.”

Keller’s expression tightened.

“Let’s not make this complicated.”

Arthur had heard those words before.

Twelve years earlier.

Outside the Rourke Center.

Keller had stood beside a rescue vehicle while Arthur begged to know whether anyone was still searching the east wing.

Let’s not make this complicated, Mr. Kane.

Arthur remembered the exact sentence.

He had never forgotten it.

“You remember me,” Arthur said.

Keller looked away.

Mason glanced between them.

“You two know each other?”

Arthur answered.

“Your father owned the building where my son disappeared.”

Mason smiled.

“Oh. You’re that guy.”

Arthur looked at him.

“What guy?”

“My dad said you couldn’t accept what happened.”

Keller interrupted.

“That’s enough, Mason.”

But Mason wasn’t finished.

“He said you spent years bothering people about some accident.”

Arthur looked directly at Keller.

“Did Victor tell you that, too?”

“Mr. Kane—”

“Did he?”

Keller lowered his voice.

“Take your dog and go home.”

Arthur glanced toward the security camera above the diner’s register.

Then he turned to the waitress.

“Does that camera work?”

She nodded.

“Every day.”

Keller followed his gaze.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means there should be a record of what happened.”

Mason stepped closer.

“You threatening me?”

“No.”

“Then what are you doing?”

Arthur looked at him.

“Making sure nobody changes the story later.”

Keller took out his notebook.

He wrote something.

Then closed it.

“Here’s what’s going to happen. Everybody goes home. No report unless somebody insists on filing a complaint.”

Arthur answered immediately.

“I insist.”

Keller stared at him.

“About the dog?”

“About what happened here.”

Mason laughed again.

Keller’s voice hardened.

“Mr. Kane, don’t waste police time.”

Arthur didn’t argue.

He asked the waitress for the diner’s business card.

She handed it to him.

On the back, she wrote her name.

Emily Parker.

Below it:

I saw everything.

Arthur placed the card in his pocket.

Keller noticed.

“What’s that?”

“A witness.”

For the first time, the officer’s expression changed.

Arthur had spent twelve years believing that David’s disappearance was a tragedy.

But standing in that diner, watching Keller try to prevent a simple complaint involving the Rourke family, he began wondering whether he had been asking the wrong question.

Not why David had died.

But why certain people had worked so hard to make Arthur stop asking.

He led Titan toward the door.

Keller stepped beside him.

His voice was barely audible.

“Leave the Rourkes alone.”

Arthur stopped.

“Why?”

Keller looked toward Mason.

Then back at Arthur.

“Because your son didn’t.”

Arthur turned.

“What did you say?”

Keller stepped away.

“Have a good afternoon, Mr. Kane.”

Arthur watched him return to Mason.

The two men spoke quietly.

Then Keller laughed.

Arthur walked outside.

He helped Titan into the truck.

The dog rested his gray muzzle against Arthur’s arm.

Arthur opened the notebook he kept in the glove compartment.

He wrote down everything.

The time.

The officer’s name.

Mason’s name.

Emily’s name.

And Keller’s final sentence.

Then he took out his phone.

He had one more thing to check before leaving.

He called the sheriff’s dispatch office and requested the incident number.

The dispatcher searched.

Then searched again.

“I’m sorry, sir. I don’t see an incident report.”

Arthur looked through the diner window.

Keller was still talking to Mason.

“Could you confirm whether a call came in?”

“Yes, sir. At 3:42 p.m.”

“And Officer Keller responded?”

“Yes.”

Arthur thanked her.

He ended the call.

Then he looked at Titan.

“Twelve years, boy.”

The dog lifted his head.

Arthur started the engine.

“Let’s find out what else they forgot to write down.”

END OF CHAPTER 2