One Day in a Small-Town Desert, chapter 10, page 2

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Lawperson Séara Nulıpésha pounded on the Kılímos’ front door. This was getting absurd. Why isn’t Mr. Kılímo answering? He can’t really be under arrest, can he? Despite her unwillingness to damage her friends’ house, she knew she should force her way in--or just give up and join the search for the murderer in the back yard. Besides, her hand was starting to get sore.

Just as she turned away from the door and reached for her radio to report, Séara spotted another police cruiser speeding up the driveway, flashing lights but no siren, its engine growling slightly louder than the crunching of the gravel. Even in the awkward lighting, she recognized the markings of the Pívo County Constabulary. It had to be Senior Lawman Vomıvé.

As the paramedics silently watched her, Séara grabbed her radio and flipped it on with a burst of static. “This is Nulıpésha. Unable to gain entry to house. Will resume helping search.”

One of the medics said, “Hey, you gotta help us. There’s an boy with two broken legs in there.”

Then why didn’t you enter when the door was open? thought Séara, but she held her tongue. She took a step toward the path around the house before her radio squawked.

“Negative, Nulıpésha. This is Vomıvé. Stay where you are.”

She stopped and stood facing the driveway, her hands behind her back. She chewed her lower lip as the senior lawman parked his cruiser behind hers and jogged towards her. He had been in the constabulary for almost ten years, but he had never advanced out of wearing a uniform. In the meantime, his hair had turned gray and his belt size had expanded modestly.

A few meters away, he slowed to a fast march and barked, “Pétíso damn it, Nulıpésha. Just break the window.” As he passed her, he added, “And stay with the medics!” His flashlight illuminating the dirt path ahead of him, he resumed jogging, leaving Séara alone with the medics once again.

They looked at her expectantly. “Well?”

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