“Officer Monroe.”
He froze.
She had read his name from his badge.
But hearing it spoken in that calm judicial tone unsettled him.
“How do you know my name?”
“It is literally on your uniform.”
He recovered quickly.
“Hands behind your back.”
Evelyn stared.
“You are arresting me?”
“Detaining you.”
“For?”
“Obstruction while I investigate suspected trespassing.”
Evelyn looked toward her house.
Chief Adrian Wallace was somewhere beyond those windows.
She wondered whether anyone had noticed the cruiser.
Probably not.
The meeting was scheduled in the library on the opposite side of the house.
She considered shouting.
Then decided against it.
No.
She wanted the interaction exactly as Darius intended it to happen.
Without rescue.
Without status.
Without somebody important appearing too early.
If the department had changed, procedure should protect her before identity did.
Darius pulled one wrist behind her.
Metal closed.
The click sounded impossibly loud.
Evelyn inhaled.
At seventy-two, shoulder joints did not enjoy being forced backward.
Pain moved down her arm.
“Other hand.”
She gave it voluntarily.
The second cuff closed.
Darius leaned slightly toward her.
“See how easy this would've been if you had cooperated?”
Evelyn looked straight ahead.
Her voice was cold now.
“Officer, you should read the first page of the folder before you finish this.”
He laughed.
“I’ve heard every version of that.”
“I know the mayor.”
“I know the chief.”
“I work for the federal government.”
“I own the building.”
“Everybody becomes important when the cuffs come out.”
Evelyn turned her head.
“Is that your experience?”
“Constantly.”
“Then perhaps your experience should have taught you to verify before assuming.”
Darius tightened his grip on her elbow.
“Walk.”
She did.
Two steps toward the rear cruiser door.
Then the front door of the mansion opened.
Darius heard it.
So did Evelyn.
He looked up.
A tall man in a white command shirt stepped onto the porch.
Silver stars gleamed at his collar.
Police Chief Adrian Wallace.
He paused.
His eyes moved across the scene.
Patrol cruiser.
Documents on the hood.
Evelyn.
Handcuffs.
For half a second, he did not understand what he was seeing.
Then his face changed.
“Judge?”
Darius froze.
Evelyn closed her eyes briefly.
Too soon.
Behind the chief emerged United States Attorney Rachel Brooks, followed by Deputy Chief Thomas Greene and city attorney Lydia Shaw.
Rachel saw the cuffs.
“Oh my God.”
Chief Wallace came down the steps quickly.
Darius released Evelyn’s elbow.
The chief stopped ten feet away.
His voice was dangerously quiet.
“Officer.”
Darius looked from the command insignia to Evelyn.
Then back.
“Chief.”
“Remove those cuffs.”
Darius swallowed.
“Sir, we received a suspicious-person call and she refused—”
“Remove.”
“The cuffs.”
“Now.”
The command cracked across the driveway.
Darius fumbled for the key.