He left his vehicle. He might get a ticket, but no way could they tow him in the two minutes it would take him to return.

He looked around the area. The historic building was on a corner; no parking in front (loading zone only), and he was on a one-way street on the south side of the building. It didn’t look like anyone was sitting and waiting.

Sean would have to sweet-talk the bailiff into letting him out this entrance. He walked briskly around to the front of the building and went up the stairs two at a time, then turned and looked out at the landscape. Clear. A few people having late lunches outside on this beautiful Fall day. A floral delivery truck in the loading zone of the archives building across the street. Lawyers walking from the historic courthouse to the expansion across the street to the north.

While he believed there was a threat, it would be dumb for someone to attack at a courthouse with armed guards and in close proximity to the police station. Yet the main doors provided the best vantage point if someone wanted to get to Stan.

He entered the building and spotted Marie and Stan sitting on a bench in the main lobby. He went through security and asked the head bailiff if he could let them out the side exit.

“The door’s locked. We don’t use that entrance.”

“But can someone unlock it?”

“It would be a hassle.”

“There’s been a threat made against Mr. Grant and I’m making sure he gets home safely.”

The bailiff almost smiled, then hid it. He was the epitome of why Sean didn’t like some cops.

“I can’t open the entrance. It’s locked and alarmed.”

Sean wanted to keep arguing but didn’t think he was going to get anywhere.

He told Marie and Stan to wait for him inside, then he ran out to his car. He didn’t want to drive around the block, so waited until the street was clear and backed up two hundred feet. Now he was double-parked, but his car was right next to the path off the main entrance. Less than a hundred yards in the open. Not ideal, but better than walking Stan past the fountain to the main street, which was twice as far.

He flipped on his hazards and ran back inside.

“Be alert,” Sean said. “It’s ten seconds to my car.”

“Is this really necessary?” Marie asked.

He hadn’t meant to scare her, but better to scare her than not expect trouble. “Follow my lead, okay?”

He stepped out again, this time with Stan and Marie right by his side. He glanced around—little had changed in the few moments he’d been in the courthouse—then ushered them down the stairs, turned left, and briskly strode toward his jeep, looking for potential threats.