His voice sharpened.
“Get out of the vehicle.”
The woman sat for one second longer.
Then opened the door.
The wind caught the long burgundy coat as she stepped onto the gravel shoulder.
Her heels sank slightly.
The officer looked at her clothes again.
That seemed to annoy him.
“Stand over there.”
He pointed toward the rear quarter panel.
She moved.
The officer took a step closer.
“Hands visible.”
Her hands remained visible.
“Do you have weapons?”
“Yes.”
His expression changed immediately.
“Where?”
“Not on my person.”
“Where?”
“A secured service pistol is locked in a case in the trunk.”
The officer’s hand moved toward his holster.
The woman’s stomach tightened.
“Officer.”
“Don’t move.”
“I am not moving.”
“You have a firearm.”
“I told you because you asked.”
“You said you’re military.”
“I am.”
“You have a gun.”
“Secured in the trunk.”
“Keys.”
She looked at him.
“What?”
“Give me the keys.”
“Why?”
The officer stepped closer.
“Because I’m investigating whether this vehicle and those credentials are legitimate.”
The woman stared.
“No.”
The officer’s eyebrows rose.
“No?”
“You have not established any legal reason to search my trunk.”
His face flushed.
“You don’t tell me the law.”
“I’m not trying to.”
“You just did.”
“I answered your request.”
His voice rose.
“Give me the keys.”
“No.”
A car passing slowly in the adjacent lane honked.
The officer turned.
Another car had pulled onto the shoulder about seventy yards back.
Someone inside held up a phone.
The woman saw it.
The officer did too.
His embarrassment became visible.
She recognized the shift immediately.
Once an audience appeared, some people became more careful.
Others became more determined to win.
This officer belonged to the second group.
He pointed toward her.
“Turn around.”
“Why?”
“Turn around.”
She did not.
His hand closed around her upper arm.
The woman’s body reacted before thought.
Every year of training told her how easily physical resistance could transform an encounter.
She forced her shoulders loose.
“Do not shove me.”
The officer pushed her one step toward the sedan.
Her heel slipped on gravel.
She caught herself against the car.
The person filming from behind shouted something she could not hear clearly.
The officer yelled:
“Stay back!”
The woman straightened.
Her face had changed.