“You know?”
“You aren’t subtle.”
A customer nearby turned.
Colton’s cheeks reddened slightly.
“Store security has concerns.”
Vanessa looked toward the uniformed Bellamy & Rowe security employee thirty feet away.
The man looked confused.
Vanessa pointed subtly.
“Does he?”
Colton followed her gaze.
The guard immediately looked elsewhere.
Interesting.
Colton said, “You’ve been lingering around merchandise.”
“So has everyone shopping.”
“You’re not shopping.”
Vanessa raised one eyebrow.
“How did you determine that?”
He glanced at her clothes.
Then stopped himself before saying whatever first came into his head.
Vanessa saw it anyway.
“I think you should leave.”
She looked at him.
“Am I being trespassed by the store?”
Colton hesitated.
The sales associate said quickly, “No.”
He turned on her.
“Stay out of this.”
The woman's expression changed.
Vanessa looked from her to Colton.
“Then no employee has asked me to leave.”
“I’m asking.”
“You don't own the property.”
“I’m a police officer.”
“I can see that.”
“Then cooperate.”
“With what lawful instruction?”
That sentence did it.
Vanessa saw the change.
Some officers became calmer when a civilian asked about legal authority.
Others took the question as personal disrespect.
Colton belonged to the second group.
He stepped closer.
“You want to play attorney now?”
“No.”
Vanessa’s voice remained level.
“I asked what law I have violated.”
A woman near the cosmetics counter raised her phone.
Colton noticed.
His embarrassment deepened.
Vanessa recognized that too.
The public audience had changed the interaction.
Now he was no longer merely deciding what to do with Vanessa.
He was defending what he had already done.
That was more dangerous.
Colton said, “Turn around.”
Vanessa stared.
“No.”
“You’re being detained.”
“For what?”
“Suspicion of shoplifting.”
“What merchandise is missing?”
“That will be determined.”
“By whom?”
“Turn around.”
The sales associate stepped forward again.
“Officer, I’m telling you she hasn't taken anything.”
Colton pointed at her.
“I said stay back.”
Vanessa’s voice dropped.
“Officer Colton.”
He froze.
“How do you know my name?”
Vanessa looked at the badge on his chest.
“It is printed in large letters.”
A few people laughed.
Not loudly.
Enough.
Colton’s face darkened.
“Turn around.”
Vanessa did not.
He reached for her wrist.
She moved it away.
Not aggressively.
One step.
One controlled withdrawal.
Colton grabbed again.
This time his fingers closed.
Vanessa looked down at his hand.
“Think carefully.”
“Stop resisting.”
“I am standing still.”
He twisted her wrist behind her.
The movement drove her shoulder toward the glass display.
Several perfume bottles trembled.
Someone gasped.
Vanessa’s cheek came close to the cold marble edge.
She caught herself with one hand before impact.
Colton pushed harder.
“Hands behind your back.”
Vanessa's voice became colder.