“We're disarming you.”
“For doing my job?”
Marcus did not answer.
He removed Keller’s service weapon.
Then the pepper spray.
Then the handcuffs.
Another agent collected the open credential wallet from the pavement and handed it to Marcus.
Nia remained kneeling.
Her eyes felt as though someone had pressed burning sand beneath the lids.
A medic arrived from one of the SUVs carrying saline.
“Agent Brooks, I need you facing down.”
“I know.”
She had been sprayed during training.
Training did not make the real thing hurt less.
Water ran over her face.
The chemical spread before it began washing away.
Nia gripped the bumper of the federal SUV and controlled her breathing.
Keller continued talking.
“She was noncompliant.”
Rebecca Sloan walked from the second vehicle.
She wore a dark raincoat over court clothes and carried a federal evidence folder.
“Officer Keller.”
He looked at her.
“Who are you?”
“Assistant United States Attorney Rebecca Sloan.”
Some of the arrogance left him.
Rebecca held up the folder.
“Do not make any further statements about tonight until you understand your position.”
“My position?”
“Yes.”
Keller laughed nervously.
“My position is I conducted a suspicious-person investigation and she escalated.”
Nia turned her head slightly.
Even half-blind, she could hear the lie evolving.
Rebecca asked:
“What suspicious-person call?”
Keller stopped.
“What?”
“You said narcotics activity.”
“That's right.”
“Before that you implied a suspicious vehicle.”
“I didn't imply anything.”
Rebecca looked toward Marcus.
He checked his tablet.
“There was no dispatch call involving Pump 6.”
Keller’s eyes moved toward the store.
Maybe he had forgotten Dylan existed.
Maybe he was calculating whether the clerk could be intimidated later.
Nia noticed.
“Secure station video,” she said.
Marcus nodded.
Two agents entered Laam’s Gas & Go.
Dylan nearly dropped his phone when they approached.
“I recorded it.”
“Good.”
“My dad has another system.”
One agent stopped.
“Another?”
Dylan pointed toward the office.
“He didn't trust some people.”
“Which people?”
Dylan looked through the window toward Keller.
“That people.”
Outside, another McKetric County cruiser appeared at the entrance.
Then another.
Marcus immediately turned.
“Who called local?”
“No one,” an agent answered.
The first cruiser pulled under the canopy.
Lieutenant Owen Price stepped out.
Tall.
Sixty.
Silver hair.
He looked from the FBI vehicles to Keller.
Then to Nia.
Something dark passed across his face.
“What the hell is this?”
Rebecca stepped forward.
“Federal operation. Stop where you are.”
Price did not.
“I supervise that officer.”
“Then you can supervise him from there.”
Price stared at Keller.
“What happened?”
Keller opened his mouth.
Marcus said:
“Don't answer.”
Price’s eyes snapped toward him.
“He is my officer.”
“And currently part of a federal investigation.”
Price stopped.
The second cruiser remained near the entrance.
Its driver never exited.
Nia noticed.
“Marcus.”