Miller took a step back, his boots splashing in a shallow puddle. "Who the hell are you?"
The stranger slipped the notebook back into his pocket. "You picked the wrong parking lot tonight, Miller."
Chapter 2: Internal Affairs
"I am a sworn officer of the law!" Miller shouted, his voice cracking violently into the night air. He drew his taser, the bright yellow plastic stark against his dark uniform, and pointed it directly at the stranger's chest. "Get on the ground! Both of you! Right now!"
I screamed, dropping to my knees beside my car tire, my hands flying up to cover my head. The red laser dot from the taser danced wildly across the stranger’s crisp white shirt, shaking with Miller’s terrified adrenaline.
"Get down!" Miller roared again, spit flying from his lips.
The stranger didn't drop. He didn't even bend his knees. He just stood there, staring down the barrel of the taser with an expression of absolute, chilling disappointment.
"Put it away, Miller," the stranger said.
"I said on the ground!" Miller yelled, his eyes darting wildly between the stranger and me, crouching by the tire. "You are under arrest for interfering with a police investigation! You, lady, tell him! Tell him I was just doing a welfare check! Tell him!"
Miller glared down at me, the implied threat hanging heavy in the freezing rain. If I lied for him, maybe he would let me go. Maybe I could just get in my car and drive away, leaving this stranger to deal with the monster.
I looked up at the stranger. He glanced down at me, his eyes softening just a fraction. He gave me a single, reassuring nod. It wasn't an order. It was permission to be brave.
I swallowed the lump of absolute terror in my throat and forced myself to stand up. My legs shook so badly I had to lean against my car door to stay upright.
"No," I said, my voice cutting through the sound of the rain.
Miller’s head snapped toward me, his eyes wide with fury. "What did you say?"
"I said no," I repeated, louder this time. "You wouldn't let me leave. You grabbed my door. You told me I couldn't leave until you said so."
Miller’s face contorted. "She’s lying! She’s intoxicated! I smelled alcohol on her breath!"
"She's wearing hospital scrubs and smells like antibacterial soap," the stranger countered smoothly. "Try again."
The stranger reached into his jacket pocket again, slowly this time, broadcasting every movement so Miller wouldn't pull the trigger. He pulled out a leather wallet and let it flip open.