Keane's expression changed.
Very slightly.
Vanessa saw.
A supervisor recognizing a weak arrest.
Good.
“What did store security say?”
Colton answered:
“The sales associate interfered.”
Keane looked at him.
“That wasn't the question.”
Silence.
Vanessa watched.
Maybe Keane would stop it.
Then Colton reached for Vanessa's handbag.
“Let's search.”
Vanessa said:
“You should inventory it on camera.”
Keane's head snapped toward her.
Something changed in his face.
“Why?”
“Because I requested it.”
Colton laughed.
“She thinks she runs the place.”
Vanessa met Keane's eyes.
For half a second, she wondered whether he recognized her.
No.
But something about her bothered him.
Not fear yet.
Familiarity.
Perhaps her name.
Colton removed her wallet.
Opened it.
Vanessa waited.
He handed the identification toward Keane.
Keane looked.
The blood left his face.
It happened so quickly that even Colton noticed.
“What?”
Keane said nothing.
His eyes moved from the identification card to Vanessa.
Then back.
Colton leaned closer.
“What is it?”
Keane swallowed.
“Her name.”
“What about it?”
Vanessa spoke:
“Check the inside pocket of my coat.”
Colton rolled his eyes.
“What, another fake credential?”
Keane stood.
“Derek.”
Too late.
Colton reached into the interior lining of Vanessa's jeweled blazer.
His fingers found the leather case.
He pulled it out.
Small.
Black.
Unremarkable.
He held it up.
“This?”
Vanessa nodded.
Colton grinned.
He turned toward the room.
“Let's see what our professional thief carries.”
Keane said:
“Don't.”
Colton looked at him.
“What?”
Keane's voice sharpened.
“Put it down.”
The change in tone silenced two nearby conversations.
Colton stared.
“What is wrong with you?”
Vanessa said calmly:
“Open it.”
Keane closed his eyes.
Colton looked toward her.
Then smiled.
“Fine.”
He flipped the case open.
For perhaps one second, nothing happened.
Then the room stopped.
Inside rested a golden command shield.
Not a standard patrol badge.
Not a detective shield.
Command insignia.
Department seal.
Rank.
Captain.
Below it:
VANESSA COLE.
And beneath:
COMMANDING OFFICER, PRECINCT 42.
Effective date:
Two days from now.
Colton stared.
He did not breathe.
Keane's chair rolled backward when he stood too quickly and struck a filing cabinet.
The sound echoed.