Two Cops Showed Up the Morning After He Ran Off

and pulled up the text thread.

Dugan read the message. His mouth changed shape, just for a second.

“I left with your best friend. We’re not coming back.”

Merrill looked away first.

I said, “Would you like to see the credit card alerts too, or are we done humiliating me on my own porch?”

That landed.

Dugan handed the documents back. “No, ma’am. That won’t continue reading …