There are people who respond to contradiction by reconsidering themselves.
And people who experience contradiction as betrayal.
I knew which one stood in front of me.
“You want to do this here?” Rollins asked.
Miller lowered his voice.
“I want us to fix it.”
Rollins looked at the desk officer.
“Interview two.”
The desk officer remained uncertain.
Then a side door opened.
A lieutenant stepped out carrying a folder.
“What've we got?”
Rollins turned.
“Possible trespass. Suspicious behavior.”
The lieutenant's name was Carter.
I knew him.
Not personally.
Professionally.
Lieutenant Samuel Carter had attended a federal-local task force conference eight months earlier where I had delivered the closing remarks.
I saw recognition flicker.
He stopped walking.
His gaze settled on me.
Not my face at first.
My posture.
Then the silver hair.
Then back to my face.
“Sir?”
Rollins frowned.
Carter placed the folder on the desk.
“Sir, are you—”
I shook my head once.
The movement was small.
But Carter saw it.
His eyes dropped to the cuffs.
The color left his face.
Rollins noticed the exchange.
Carter looked at me.
Then at him.
“Interview two,” I said.
My voice was quiet.
Carter understood.
He turned toward the desk officer.
“Take the cuffs off.”
Rollins stiffened.
“Lieutenant—”
“Now.”
“I have probable cause.”
“He—”
“Take them off.”
Rollins hesitated.
Carter stepped closer.
“Officer Rollins. Remove the restraints.”
This time, Rollins obeyed.
The cuffs opened.
I brought my hands forward.
Red bands circled both wrists.
Carter stared at them.
“Do you need medical?”
“Sir—”
I rubbed my right hand.
Carter nodded.
“Of course.”
Rollins looked from him to me.
Something had changed in the room.
He could feel it.
He just didn't understand it.
I walked toward the interview room without asking permission.
And for the first time that morning, Derek Rollins followed me.
Part II — Pressure
Interview Room Two had no windows.
Metal table.
Four chairs.
A camera mounted high in one corner.
Institutional paint the color of wet concrete.
I sat on one side.
Rollins remained standing.
Miller took the chair nearest the door.
Lieutenant Carter entered last and closed it behind him.
Rollins looked at Carter.
“What is this?”
Carter didn't answer.
Instead, he turned toward me.
“Mr. Pendleton, may I speak with you outside?”
That made Rollins smile faintly.
He thought my refusal supported his version of me.
Carter pulled out a chair.
“Then what would you like to do?”
“I'd like Officer Rollins to complete the interview exactly as he intended before you recognized me.”
The smile disappeared.
“Recognized him?”
Carter's hands flattened on the table.
I watched the struggle on his face.
He wanted to end it.
I needed him not to.