"I'd rather not say."
Cole leaned back.
"You understand you're not in a position to make demands."
Reed's expression remained unchanged.
"I'm aware."
"Then start cooperating."
"I have been cooperating."
"You refused to identify yourself."
"I provided identification."
"You refused to answer questions."
"I answered several questions."
"You walked away from an active investigation."
"Because I was told I could leave."
Dalton slammed his palm against the table.
"You don't get to decide when you're done here."
Reed looked at him.
"I didn't decide that."
"Then who did?"
"The officer who originally stopped me."
Cole studied Reed.
There was something strange about the man.
Most people became defensive when arrested.
Some became angry.
Others became frightened.
Reed seemed almost detached.
He behaved as if the room were an inconvenience rather than a threat.
Cole had seen confidence before.
This wasn't ordinary confidence.
It was certainty.
And that bothered him.
"Let's talk about the vehicle," Cole said.
"What vehicle?"
"The black SUV parked behind the municipal building."
"I didn't drive it."
"You were standing beside it."
"I was standing on the sidewalk."
"Did you know the driver?"
"No."
"You're lying."
Reed sighed.
"Then why ask me?"
Dalton stepped closer.
"Watch your attitude."
Reed looked up.
"My attitude?"
"You think you're better than us?"
"No."
"You've been acting like it since you walked in."
"I've been sitting in a chair."
Dalton grabbed the back of Reed's chair and pulled it slightly away from the table.
"Don't play games with me."
Reed stared at him.
"Officer, I haven't played a single game tonight."
Cole stood.
"Dalton."
Dalton released the chair.
Cole walked around the table.
"You should understand something," he said. "Nobody here cares how expensive your suit is."
Reed looked down at his jacket.
"This suit isn't particularly expensive."
Cole laughed.
"Fine. Whatever."
He leaned closer.
"What matters is that you're in our station, you're under investigation, and you're going to answer our questions."
Reed nodded.
"Understood."
"Good."
Cole pointed at him.
"So let's try this one more time."
He opened the folder.
"Who were you meeting?"
Reed remained silent.
Cole waited.
Five seconds.
Ten.
Twenty.
Finally, Reed spoke.
"Someone who will be arriving shortly."
Dalton laughed.
"Who?"
Reed looked at the clock.
"Your guess is as good as mine."
Dalton shook his head.
"You think you're clever."
"No."
"You think someone is coming to rescue you."
"No."
"Then why aren't you worried?"
Reed looked directly at him.
"Because I don't need rescuing."
The room went silent.
Cole studied him.
Then he leaned forward.
"Maybe you don't understand where you are."
Reed's voice remained calm.
"I understand exactly where I am."
Dalton stepped behind him.
"Hands behind your back."
Reed turned his head slightly.
"They're already behind my back."
"I want them higher."
Dalton grabbed the cuffs.
Reed winced as the metal tightened.
"That's unnecessary."
Dalton pulled harder.
"There."
Reed breathed slowly.
Cole watched.
"Still confident?"
Reed looked at him.
"I wasn't aware confidence was a crime."
Dalton moved around the table.
"You're going to learn some respect tonight."
Reed said nothing.
The door opened.
Another officer stepped inside.
"Sergeant, Captain Reynolds is asking for you."
Cole looked annoyed.
"Tell him I'll be there in a minute."
The officer hesitated.
"He said now."
Cole cursed quietly.
He pointed toward Reed.
"Keep him here."
Dalton nodded.
Cole left.
The door closed.
Dalton turned back toward Reed.
The room suddenly felt smaller.
"You know what your problem is?" Dalton asked.
Reed didn't answer.
"You think people like you are untouchable."
Reed looked at him.
"I don't think I'm untouchable."
"Sure sounds like it."
"No."
Reed's voice became quieter.
"I think everyone is accountable."
Dalton laughed.
"That's a nice speech."
He stepped behind Reed again.
Then he tightened the handcuffs one more notch.
Reed's expression hardened.
"That's enough."
Dalton leaned toward his ear.
"You'll tell me when it's enough."
And that was the moment the situation stopped being a routine arrest.
Because someone outside the room had begun asking questions.
And those questions were coming from much higher up than Sergeant Cole.
At 10:06 p.m., Captain Reynolds entered the main lobby.
He was visibly irritated.
"Where's Cole?"
The desk officer pointed toward the interrogation corridor.
"He's with the prisoner."
"What prisoner?"
"Jonathan Reed."
Reynolds stopped.
"What did you say?"
"Jonathan Reed."