Chapter 1
Ethan
The low rumble of the patrol car was familiar beneath Ethan’s hands, a steady hum that filled the quiet between radio chatter. Ranger sat in the backseat, alert but relaxed, his amber eyes scanning the passing streets. The town was busy in its usual way—locals running errands, tourists moving at half-speed as they admired the coastal charm.
Ethan barely noticed the silver sedan until it blew through the stop sign at the intersection ahead. His brows lifted, and instinct took over as he flicked on the lights.
“Looks like we’ve got a live one, buddy,” he murmured, shifting lanes to follow.
The driver didn’t speed up or try to evade him—just eased onto a quieter side street and pulled over smoothly. No hesitation, no panic. Good sign. Ethan adjusted his radio, checking his rearview mirror before putting the car in park.
“Alright, Ranger,” he said, glancing back at his partner. “Standard traffic stop. Wish me luck and come rescue me if I get into a jam.”
Ranger huffed, resting his chin on his paws.
Ethan grabbed his hat, pushed open the door, and stepped out. Years of training dictated his next moves: approach from the driver’s side, one hand lightly resting on his duty belt, observant but not aggressive. The sun dipped low in the sky, casting long shadows over the pavement. As he neared the car, something made him pause—not a threat, but a feeling.
The man behind the wheel—tall, broad-shouldered, the kind of presence that filled a space—kept both hands on the steering wheel. His face was turned slightly downward, but Ethan could see the redness in his eyes.
He’s been crying.
Ethan kept his voice even and professional. “Good afternoon, sir. Do you know why I pulled you over?”
The man took a slow breath before answering, “My apologies, officer. I failed to stop at the stop sign.” His voice was steady, but there was something underneath it—exhaustion, maybe—a quiet kind of sorrow.
Ethan nodded. “Yeah. You rolled right through it. I know it’s easy to do, but those signs are there for a reason.”
The man exhaled, running a hand briefly over his bearded face before nodding. “I—I wasn’t paying attention. I’m sorry, officer. It won’t happen again.”
The genuine sincerity in his tone caught Ethan off guard. Most people either made excuses or acted irritated. This guy? He just seemed… defeated.
Ethan tilted his head slightly. “May I have your driver’s license, insurance card, and registration, please?”
The man nodded, reaching into his glove box without fumbling, movements precise and practiced. Ethan took the documents and scanned them quickly.
Mark Jensen.
The name sat heavily in Ethan’s mind, though it meant nothing to him—yet. The address was local, and the registration was clean. The car, however, made Ethan pause. It was listed under a different name:
Jessica Jensen.
Ethan filed that detail away, glancing briefly at the make and model.
Seven years old. It is in good shape but showing its age.
Not what he expected a man this size to be driving.
He walked back to his patrol car, sliding into the seat and setting the documents on the console. Ranger perked up immediately, ears twitching as Ethan read through the license details aloud.
“Mark Jensen. Thirty-nine years old. Six-foot-three, two-twenty, brown hair, green eyes,” Ethan muttered, raising an eyebrow. “You see that car he’s driving? It’s a 2018 Volkswagen Jetta. That’s gotta be the smallest sedan on the market.”
Ranger’s tail wagged slightly, but he stayed silent.
“I mean, look at him,” Ethan continued showing Ranger the license, shaking his head as he ran Mark’s information through the system. “That guy probably has to fold himself in half just to get behind the wheel. He looks like a damn linebacker?”
Ranger let out a soft whuff , his ears flicking forward.
Ethan tapped his fingers against the keyboard, waiting for the system to process. “Everything checks out. No priors, clean record. But man, he looks rough . Like he’s carrying the weight of the world.”
Ranger yawned, stretching out his legs.
Ethan sighed, leaning back in his seat. “Alright, buddy. What do you think? One bark for a warning, two for a ticket.”
Ranger tilted his head, considering, then gave a single, decisive woof .
Ethan chuckled, shaking his head. “Softie.” He reached out and scratched behind Ranger’s ears. “But yeah… I was thinking the same thing.”
He stepped out of the car again, walking back toward Mark’s window. The man looked up as he approached, his face composed now, the earlier emotion tucked away behind something more neutral.
Ethan handed back his license and registration. “I’m gonna let you off with a warning today.”
Mark blinked, clearly not expecting that. “I appreciate that, officer.”
“Just be careful out there,” Ethan added, his voice softening slightly. “It’s easy to get distracted, but other people are counting on you so they can make it home safe.”
Something flickered in Mark’s expression, deep and unreadable. He nodded. “I will. Thank you.”
Ethan gave a quick nod, tapping the roof of the sedan lightly before stepping back. “Have a good day, Mr. Jensen.”
Mark hesitated for half a second as if there was something else he wanted to say, but then he nodded and put the car into drive.
Ethan watched as the taillights disappeared down the street, something unsettled shifting in his chest. He didn’t know what it was about that man, but something about him had reached in —subtle, indescribable, but undeniable.
He glanced up at the darkening sky, rolling his shoulders before climbing back into the patrol car.
He rested a hand on Ranger’s head and exhaled slowly.
“God,” he murmured under his breath, “keep that guy safe, will you?”
Ranger sighed, curling up in the backseat, as Ethan turned off his lights and pulled back onto the road.