Attitude.
A useful word because it described nothing measurable.
“Sergeant, I am waiting for a scheduled meeting.”
“It’s already been verified.”
“By who?”
“Reception.”
Harlan turned.
Emily looked suddenly nervous.
“His identification checks.”
Harlan stared at her.
“You ran him?”
“No, but—”
“Then you didn’t verify anything.”
Marcus spoke.
“She viewed an official credential.”
Harlan faced him again.
“What credential?”
Not because he wanted conflict.
Because he wanted to see what Harlan did with uncertainty.
The sergeant made the decision quickly.
“Put your hands on the counter.”
Marcus almost asked whether Harlan was serious.
His expression provided the answer.
“You’re detaining me?”
“You want to make it an arrest?”
“Counter.”
Marcus walked toward it.
Officer Bennett entered through the front doors as Marcus placed his hands down.
Bennett slowed.
Harlan moved behind Marcus.
“What’s going on?”
Harlan grabbed Marcus’s arm.
“Possible trespass.”
Marcus looked at Bennett.
The officer looked back.
“Did he enter secure space?”
Harlan’s jaw tightened.
“You questioning me?”
“No, Sergeant.”
“Then stand by.”
Emily said:
“He didn’t trespass.”
Harlan ignored her.
Marcus felt his wrist turn.
“Sergeant.”
“Your camera.”
Harlan looked down.
It was running.
“Good.”
Marcus nodded.
“Keep it running.”
That was the moment Harlan slapped him.
Deputy Chief Laura Mitchell was on the fourth floor when her phone vibrated for the third time.
She glanced at the screen.
Emily Torres.
Front desk.
Laura silenced it.
The command meeting had already run twenty minutes long.
Captain Russell Dane was arguing about overtime projections.
Lieutenant Karen Cho was presenting recruitment statistics.
Three other commanders sat around the conference table.
Laura disliked ignoring front-desk calls, but Emily could leave a message.
Then her personal phone buzzed.
City Administrator Nathan Bell.
Laura frowned.
She answered quietly.
“Mitchell.”
“Where is Carter?”
Laura straightened.
“He texted me twenty minutes ago saying he was entering headquarters.”
“He hasn’t called me.”
“He said he’d check in.”
Laura stood.
Everyone looked at her.
“Did he come through secure parking?”
“No. Public entrance.”
Laura’s stomach tightened.
“Why?”
“You know why.”
“Damn it.”
“Nothing.”
She walked rapidly toward the door.
“I’m checking.”
Captain Dane looked up.
“Everything okay?”
“No idea.”