"Hey, man, no explanation necessary," Russell says, stepping back to let Chase come inside. John comes running at the sound of the open door, meowing around Russell's feet before she heads to the newcomer, her tail swishing, nose twitching. Sometimes she tries to escape into the hall, but Russell gets the door closed before she can decide outside is more interesting than Chase's shoes.

"You want a beer or somethin'?" he asks. "I'm not doin' much, was just lookin' over some paperwork, but it's not important." It can be done anytime, really, which is the good thing about his job. He's far from the only cop who puts off paperwork for weeks at a time.