Tawny opened the door to find a plainclothes police officer with three uniformed ones right behind him. "Tawny Dean?" he asked matter-of-factly.
"That's me, yes," Tawny responded coolly.
"You'll have to come with us," the officer said, signaling to the other three. They swiftly moved in and took hold of her arms.
"Then you'll have to take me with you," Louis blurted out. Tawny shot him a backwards glance. For the first time, he could see a trace of fear in her eyes, fear for him and what he was getting himself into. He made an effort to give her the same reassuring look from a few moments before.
"We're here only for Tawny Dean," the lead officer said impatiently. He gave another signal to the others to file out.
Louis followed them out the door. "No, I must come with you," he said insistently. "I have information that might be valuable to the police, and–"
"Louis!" Tawny snapped, cutting him off.
There was a moment of heavy silence. "Then take him along," the lead officer said in the same impatient tone. "The first thing there, you'll be charged with obstruction of justice," he added in a nonchalant manner that left it uncertain if it was meant as a joke.
Tawny gave Louis a stern look as the policemen led them out in silence. Louis lowered his eyes, slightly embarrassed by the scene he had created, but firmly convinced that he was doing the right thing.