Perhaps it was the absence of fear.
Perhaps it was the controlled tone.
Perhaps he had grown accustomed to people shrinking when he raised his voice.
Whatever the reason, he decided to make an example of Daniel.
He shoved the wallet toward him.
The leather struck Daniel's injured hand.
Daniel flinched.
Briggs noticed and smiled.
“What's wrong?”
Daniel looked down at the blood on his knuckles.
Then back up.
“I've asked for medical attention.”
“You'll get medical attention when I say you get medical attention.”
Keller laughed.
Briggs leaned closer.
“Now tell me where you got the badge.”
Daniel answered quietly.
“From the department.”
“Which department?”
“The one printed on it.”
Briggs's face reddened.
“You think you're clever.”
“No.”
“Then explain yourself.”
Daniel looked at him.
“Read the credential.”
“I don't need to read some fake card to know what you are.”
Daniel held his gaze.
“And what am I?”
Briggs smiled coldly.
“A liar.”
The room seemed to become quieter.
Daniel took a breath.
Then said, “You have one more opportunity to get a supervisor.”
Briggs lunged across the counter.
His hand closed around Daniel's shirt collar.
The fabric pulled tight against Daniel's throat.
“You don't threaten me in my station!”
Daniel's chair scraped against the floor.
Briggs shoved him backward.
Daniel caught himself.
His knuckles struck the edge of the plastic property bin.
Fresh blood appeared.
For a second, his expression tightened with pain.
Then it settled again.
He looked at Briggs.
“Document that.”
Briggs laughed.
“Document what?”
“The assault.”
Keller's smile disappeared.
Briggs released a harsh breath.
“You really are stupid.”
He grabbed Daniel's collar again.
This time his fist twisted the navy fabric.
Daniel did not raise his hands.
He looked directly into the officer's face.
Then said something so quietly that only Briggs and Keller heard it.
“You're being recorded.”
Briggs froze.
“What?”
Daniel glanced toward the ceiling.
Not dramatically.
Just enough.
There were cameras above the processing counter.
One facing the property bins.
Another covering the desk area.
A third monitoring the corridor.
Briggs looked up.
Then laughed.
“You think that scares me?”
Daniel answered, “It should.”
Briggs's face hardened.
He pulled Daniel forward again.
And at that exact moment, the red telephone rang.
The sound startled everyone nearby.
Briggs released Daniel.
He looked toward the telephone.
It rang a second time.
Then a third.
The dispatcher at the far desk stood.
“Briggs,” she called, “answer that.”
He glared at Daniel.
Then snatched the receiver.
“Central processing. Officer Briggs.”
A man's voice came through the line.