Interference.
“You want to mind your own business.”
Cole looked toward Brooke.
“You okay?”
Brooke’s breathing was shallow.
Angry adrenaline.
She nodded once.
“I will be.”
Grant stepped between them slightly.
“Sir, leave.”
Cole looked at him.
“You conducting an arrest?”
“Not your concern.”
“Detention?”
Grant’s eyes narrowed.
“You a lawyer?”
“No.”
“Then walk away.”
Cole looked toward the body camera.
Then Grant’s nameplate.
MERCER.
He repeated it.
“Mercer.”
Grant stiffened.
“Do not address me like you know me.”
“I don't.”
Cole looked at Eli.
Then the cruiser unit number.
Then back.
“I’m getting acquainted.”
Brooke almost smiled despite herself.
Grant did not.
He pointed toward the motorcycles.
“Go back to your buddies.”
Cole looked.
Twelve motorcycles near the porch.
More riders beginning to arrive in ones and twos.
“Which ones?”
“All of them.”
Cole nodded.
“Useful instruction.”
Grant stepped forward.
Cole did not move.
The size difference became obvious.
Grant was not small.
Cole was simply larger.
Grant hated that immediately.
“You want cuffs too?”
Cole’s expression remained neutral.
“For standing here?”
“For interfering.”
“What lawful duty am I interfering with?”
Grant’s nostrils flared.
Brooke recognized the pattern from moments earlier.
Questions were not the problem.
Being required to answer them was.
Grant pointed toward Cole.
“Last warning.”
Cole’s eyes dropped toward the finger.
“Keep your hands to yourself.”
Grant laughed.
“You two rehearsing lines together?”
Brooke said:
“He saw what you did.”
Grant looked back toward her.
“I moved you.”
“You grabbed me.”
“Watch what you're accusing me of.”
“Your camera recorded it.”
His eyes flicked downward.
Body camera.
Still blinking.
Cole noticed.
Good.
Grant took another step toward Brooke.
Maybe to intimidate.
Maybe to reposition.
Maybe something worse.
Cole moved between them.
Grant shoved one hand against Cole’s chest.
That was the third important moment.
Cole looked down.
Then up.
“Don't.”
Grant shoved again.
“Back off.”
Cole caught the front of Grant’s uniform with both hands.
The movement was sudden.
Brooke gasped.
Eli’s hand went toward his belt.
Cole did not punch.
Did not throw.
Did not twist.
He simply stopped Grant’s forward momentum and held him upright for one hard second.
Their faces were close.
Cole’s voice dropped.
“Enough.”
Grant froze.
Cole released him instantly.
Then stepped backward with both hands visible.
That detail mattered.
Eli saw it.
Brooke saw it.
Three bar cameras saw it.
Grant straightened his uniform.
His face had turned bright red.
“You just assaulted a police officer.”
Cole’s hands remained open.
“You pushed me twice.”