Brooks approached first.
Hill followed.
Linda rushed over before either officer could speak.
“That’s him.”
Brooks looked at Malcolm.
“Him who?”
“The suspicious man.”
Malcolm closed his book.
“What?”
Linda pointed toward the playground.
“He’s been sitting here watching families.”
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Malcolm’s expression hardened.
“No. I haven’t.”
Brooks asked:
“How long have you been here?”
“Maybe forty minutes.”
“Why?”
Malcolm lifted the book again.
“To read.”
Linda shook her head.
“That doesn’t make sense.”
Malcolm looked at her.
“Reading doesn’t make sense?”
That was the first moment Hill looked uncomfortable.
---
Brooks asked Malcolm for identification.
Malcolm asked whether he was being detained.
Brooks said:
“We’re just asking questions.”
“Then am I free to leave?”
Brooks didn’t answer.
Instead, he asked for Malcolm’s name.
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Malcolm remained seated.
“Before I give you anything, tell me what law I broke.”
Linda muttered:
“See? He’s being difficult.”
Malcolm turned toward her.
“No. I’m asking why police are questioning me for reading.”
Brooks stepped closer.
“Keep your voice down.”
“My voice is down.”
“You’re becoming confrontational.”
Malcolm stared at him.
“Because I disagree with you?”
Hill finally spoke.
“Sir, nobody said you committed a crime.”
Malcolm looked at him.
“Then why are two officers standing over me?”
Nobody answered.
Linda did.
“Because people like you make others nervous.”
The words sat there.
Brooks glanced at her.
Hill’s face changed.
Malcolm did not raise his voice.
He didn’t need to.
“People like me?”
Linda realized what she had said.
“That’s not what I meant.”
“It’s exactly what you meant.”
Brooks interrupted.
“Let’s keep this calm.”
Malcolm looked at him.
“I was calm before she called you.”
That landed.
Hill looked away.
Brooks reached for the book.
Malcolm instinctively tightened his grip.
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“Don’t.”
Brooks took it anyway and placed it on the bench.
“Sir, cooperate.”
Malcolm stared at the officer’s hand.
That simple act changed the entire tone.
The book had become evidence.
Not because it mattered.
Because Brooks had decided the encounter needed control.
Malcolm sat back.
Then said:
“Fine.”
He gave his full name.
Hill heard it.
And froze.
---
“Malcolm Hayes?” Hill asked.
“Yes.”
Hill looked at Brooks.
“Daniel.”
“What?”
Hill lowered his voice.
“That’s Dr. Hayes.”
Brooks frowned.
Malcolm said nothing.
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Linda looked between them.
“So?”
Hill ignored her.
He looked back at Malcolm.
“Professor Hayes?”
Malcolm nodded once.
Brooks looked confused.
Hill continued.
“He runs the constitutional policing program at State University.”
Silence.
Linda’s mouth opened.
Brooks stared.
Malcolm’s expression did not change.
He taught law.
More specifically, constitutional criminal procedure.
He also ran a city-funded training partnership for police supervisors, prosecutors, and public defenders.
Hill had attended one of his courses the previous year.
That was where he knew the name.
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Brooks looked at Malcolm.
“You’re a law professor?”