He had joined the department believing police work meant helping people on their worst days.
Now he stood watching his commanding officer frighten a heavily pregnant woman over a properly labeled pharmacy bag.
"Sir," Jordan said quietly, "we can verify her prescription inside."
Mercer ignored him.
He looked directly at Naomi.
"Turn around."
Her eyes widened.
"Why?"
"Because I said so."
She swallowed.
"Am I under arrest?"
"Keep asking questions and you will be."
Naomi looked toward Jordan.
For a moment, she hoped the younger officer would intervene.
But before he could speak, Mercer seized her upper arm and shoved her backward.
Her heel caught against the uneven edge of the parking lot.
She stumbled.
Then fell heavily onto her knees, catching herself with one hand as her other arm instinctively curled around her stomach.
A woman near the entrance screamed.
"Oh my God! She's pregnant!"
Naomi cried out in pain.
For several seconds, she couldn't move.
Her breathing came in frightened gasps as she tried to understand whether she'd struck her belly.
"Please!" she sobbed. "My baby! Please help me!"
Jordan rushed forward.
"Sergeant, stop!"
Mercer stepped back.
For one brief moment, even he seemed surprised by the fall.
Then his expression hardened again.
"She refused commands."
Jordan knelt beside Naomi.
"Ma'am, don't try to stand too quickly. Medical help is coming."
Naomi clutched his sleeve.
"My baby..."
Her voice broke.
"Please don't let anything happen to my baby."
Jordan reached for his radio.
But Mercer snapped, "Put that down. She's fine."
The younger officer stared at him.
"Sergeant, she just fell. She needs to be checked."
Mercer pointed toward the patrol car.
"Get back to your position!"
Jordan looked down at Naomi.
Her hands were trembling.
Tears streamed down her cheeks.
For a moment, he remembered his own wife during the final months of her pregnancy, frightened of ordinary complications and counting every movement of their unborn daughter.
He looked back at his supervisor.
"No, sir. I'm calling medical assistance."
He keyed his radio.
And in that moment, the first crack appeared in the authority Mercer believed nobody would ever challenge.
The sergeant wasn't finished.
While Jordan requested an ambulance, Mercer opened a large orange police evidence bag and placed Naomi's white pharmacy package inside.
He handled the orange bag with the practiced movements of someone accustomed to processing seized property.
Then he reached for a label.