She froze.
“You told me to retrieve it.”
“I told you to get it. I didn’t tell you to start digging around.”
Naomi turned her face toward him.
“My hand was moving toward the console you instructed me to open.”
“Don’t get smart.”
“I’m not.”
“Yes, you are.”
The exchange had reached the point Naomi disliked most.
The point where the actual reason for the stop disappeared.
Now it was about tone.
About ego.
About who controlled the conversation.
She opened the console only after Mercer nodded.
Inside were the registration packet, emergency medical kit, charging cables, and a black credential wallet.
The wallet had shifted during the drive and sat partly beneath the registration papers.
Mercer saw it.
“What’s that?”
“Government credentials.”
“Hand it over.”
Naomi picked up the wallet.
She paused.
“May I open it?”
Mercer laughed.
“You asking permission now?”
“I’m making sure you understand what I’m doing.”
“Just give it to me.”
Naomi extended the closed credential holder.
Mercer took one look at the embossed seal on the outside and made a small dismissive sound.
“Everybody buys these online now.”
Naomi stared at him.
“Excuse me?”
“Fake badges. Fake federal IDs. Fake tactical gear.”
“It isn’t fake.”
“I didn’t say yours was.”
“You strongly implied it.”
“There you go again.”
Mercer flipped the wallet open.
Two federal credentials were mounted inside.
One identification card.
One gold badge.
His smile faded for perhaps half a second.
Then returned.
He studied Naomi’s photograph.
The title below her name included words he clearly did not expect.
DIRECTOR, INTERAGENCY OPERATIONS.
Mercer closed the wallet.
“Where’d you get this?”
Naomi’s expression changed.
Not dramatically.
But something colder entered her eyes.
“It was issued to me.”
“By who?”
“The federal government.”
He gave a short laugh.
“Convenient.”
Naomi held out her hand.
“I’d like my credentials back.”
Instead of returning them, Mercer stepped away from the window.
“Exit the vehicle.”
Naomi did not move.
“For what reason?”
“Step out.”
“Officer, I have complied with every instruction.”
“Then this shouldn’t be difficult.”
“What is the legal basis?”
His head tilted.
“You really want to do this?”
“Do what?”
“Make a simple stop into something bigger.”
Naomi looked toward the body camera on his chest.
The indicator light was active.
Good.
“Officer Mercer, your camera is running?”
His expression hardened.
“You worried about my camera?”
“No.”
“You should be worried about following instructions.”
Naomi unbuckled her seat belt.
She opened the door.
Mercer stepped backward.
The moment her left foot touched the gravel, he pointed toward the front quarter panel.
“Face the vehicle.”
Naomi closed the door gently.
“What am I being detained for?”
“Suspicious credentials.”
“Suspicious according to whom?”
“Me.”
“That is not an offense.”
Mercer moved closer.
“Face the vehicle.”
Naomi turned partly.
“Before you put hands on me, I recommend you verify the credentials.”
That sentence lit something inside him.
Maybe it was the word recommend.
Maybe it was her tone.
Maybe it was the fact that she did not sound afraid.
Mercer reached for her wrist.