He remembered Lorraine sitting on the porch during summer evenings, talking with neighbors and giving away freshly cut roses.
He also knew she'd died the previous year.
He looked toward the police.
"Why are they arresting her?"
Margaret continued recording.
"I don't know."
Then she noticed something beside the flowerbed.
The younger officer had crouched near Talia's fallen handbag.
She was examining a black leather identification wallet.
For several seconds, the officer remained motionless.
Then she stood.
And the expression on her face made Margaret realize that something important had changed.
Officer Bennett had handled official credentials before.
She knew that identification cards could be forged.
She also knew that an unfamiliar credential wasn't proof of authority merely because it contained a gold seal.
But this wallet was different.
The document displayed a state-issued identification format she recognized from departmental training.
The name matched the woman's introduction.
The photograph matched her face.
And the title was extraordinary.
Director, State Inspector General's Police Oversight Division.
Bennett looked toward Talia.
For a moment, she couldn't believe what she was seeing.
Then she looked toward Mercer.
"Sergeant."
He didn't turn.
"What?"
"There's an official credential here."
He waved dismissively.
"Everybody's got some fake badge these days."
Bennett swallowed.
"This appears to be a state oversight credential."
Mercer turned sharply.
He looked at the wallet.
For a moment, his expression changed.
Then he forced a laugh.
"That's supposed to impress me?"
Bennett shook her head.
"Sir, I need to verify it."
He stared.
"Then verify it."
She contacted dispatch through the department radio.
She provided the credential reference and requested verification through the established channel.
The communications officer acknowledged the request.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Talia stood beside the crushed roses, her hands cuffed behind her.
Mercer folded his arms.
Bennett kept looking between the wallet and the radio.
Then dispatch responded.
The credential was authentic.
The holder's identity was confirmed.
And the woman standing in Lorraine Monroe's garden was the director responsible for reviewing certain police misconduct complaints and integrity concerns under state oversight procedures.
Bennett looked toward Talia.
Then toward Mercer.
"Sergeant, it's confirmed."
He stared.
For the first time, his expression seemed uncertain.
Bennett continued.
"She's the state police oversight director."
Mercer swallowed.
Then said something so revealing that Margaret would later remember it more clearly than the smashed roses.
"Why didn't she tell us she was somebody important?"
Talia slowly turned her head.
Her eyes were cold.
"I told you who I was."
Mercer frowned.
She continued.
"You decided that wasn't worth checking."
The sergeant looked toward Bennett.
For several seconds, he seemed unable to decide what to do.
Then he stepped closer to Talia.
"Why didn't you show the card earlier?"