The police officers were laughing now.
Even Marcus finally started laughing.
Then his wife arrived.
She stepped out of the car.
She looked at Marcus.
She looked at the police.
She looked at the neighbors.
Then she looked at the wire.
She closed her eyes.
“Marcus.”
“What?”
“Please tell me you didn’t get arrested again.”
“I WAS NEVER ARRESTED!”
“Good.”
She opened the car door.
“Get in.”
Marcus looked at everyone.
“Thank you all for your support.”
Nobody said anything.
Mrs. Johnson finally smiled.
“Well… at least we know you’re not a criminal.”
Marcus nodded.
“Thank you.”
She added:
“You’re just very suspicious.”
Marcus stared at her.
“That somehow feels worse.”
And then he got into the car.
He thought the nightmare was finally over.
It wasn’t.
PAGE 5 — THE JOKE THAT FOLLOWED HIM HOME
The next morning, Marcus woke up peacefully.
He made coffee.
He ate breakfast.
He kissed his wife goodbye.
And for the first time in twenty-four hours, everything felt normal.
Then he opened his phone.
There were seventeen messages.
Marcus frowned.
“What happened?”
