“Officer Rollins, before you remove the restraints, state for your body camera the legal basis on which you handcuffed me.”
His face went pale.
“Sir—”
“The same question I asked before you knew my job.”
Miller looked at the ground.
Celeste said nothing.
Rollins shifted.
“We had reports of package theft in the area.”
“Did you observe me stealing a package?”
“No.”
“Did anyone identify me as a suspect?”
“No.”
“Did you see me enter property unlawfully?”
“No.”
“What did you observe?”
Rollins glanced toward his camera.
“You were near a residence.”
“My residence.”
“I didn't know that.”
“I told you.”
“You had no ID.”
“My wallet was inside.”
His breathing changed.
I continued.
“Officer Miller suggested verifying my address.”
Silence.
“Mrs. Whitaker confirmed I lived here.”
Silence.
“You refused both.”
He finally said:
“Yes.”
“What crime did you believe I had committed when you applied handcuffs?”
Rollins looked toward Celeste.
She offered nothing.
“No specific crime.”
There it was.
Miller closed his eyes briefly.
I held Rollins’s gaze through the glass.
“Thank you.”
Then I turned slightly.
“You may remove them.”
Rollins opened the rear door.
His hands shook.
He unlocked one cuff.
Then the second.
Blood rushed painfully through my wrists.
Celeste crouched slightly.
“Medical?”
“No.”
She looked at the red marks.
“That wasn't what I asked.”
“Still no.”
I stepped from the cruiser.
My right knee was sore where Rollins had kicked it.
Nothing serious.
Mrs. Whitaker came toward me.
“Arthur.”
“I’m fine.”
“I saw him kick you.”
Celeste looked at Rollins.
Miller did too.
Rollins spoke quickly.
“He was refusing to enter the vehicle.”
“I was already handcuffed.”
“I used a control technique.”
Celeste looked at me.
I said:
“He kicked behind my knee and pushed me into the rear seat.”
Rollins swallowed.
“I followed training.”
Miller spoke.
“No, you didn't.”
Everyone turned.
Rollins stared at him.
“Greg.”
Miller’s face was pale but steady.
“You didn't.”
“Think carefully.”
“I am.”
Miller looked toward Celeste.
“He was compliant.”
Rollins took a step toward him.
Celeste’s agents moved slightly.
That stopped him.
Miller continued.
“He provided his name.”
“He gave the address.”
“He suggested verification.”
“I requested dispatch.”
“Officer Rollins refused.”
Rollins said:
“You’re throwing me under the bus.”
Miller looked at him.
“You drove us here.”
That sentence ended whatever partnership they had.
Celeste took a phone from one of the agents.
“Director.”