“Enough.”
Reyes pointed at her.
“You want to finish this shift on traffic detail?”
Priya said nothing.
“Then stay out of it.”
A door opened behind them.
Nobody noticed at first.
Captain Marcus Hale stepped out of his office carrying a file folder.
He was fifty-two, white, with close-cropped salt-and-pepper hair, a strong square face and the rigid bearing of a man who had spent almost three decades learning how much authority could be communicated without raising his voice.
He looked toward the booking desk.
Stopped.
His eyes found Maya.
Then the handcuffs.
Then Reyes.
The folder lowered slowly.
“Agent Brooks?”
Reyes went still.
Maya did not move.
Captain Hale crossed the room.
His pace was not hurried.
That made it worse.
The officers near the desk moved aside.
Hale stopped directly in front of Maya.
For half a second, disbelief showed on his face.
Then it became anger.
He turned toward Reyes.
“Why is Special Agent Brooks in handcuffs?”
Reyes opened his mouth.
No sound came.
Hale pointed toward Maya's wrists.
“Take those cuffs off.”
Reyes swallowed.
“Captain, I can explain.”
“Now.”
Reyes reached for his key.
Maya spoke.
“No.”
Every head turned.
Hale frowned.
“Agent?”
Maya looked at Reyes.
“Leave them on.”
Reyes froze.
Hale studied her face.
Something passed between them.
Not recognition.
Calculation.
Maya asked:
“Captain Hale, how many entrances does this building have?”
The question seemed absurd.
Hale did not treat it that way.
“Four.”
“Lock three.”
Reyes's face changed.
Maya continued.
“Keep the public lobby open.”
“Do not let anyone leave through the garage.”
Hale looked toward her wrists again.
“What happened?”
Maya's eyes remained on Reyes.
“I was following a federal target when Sergeant Reyes arrested me.”
Reyes exploded.
“You were trespassing!”
Maya did not look at him.
“My target entered the municipal garage at 6:42 p.m.”
Hale became very still.
“Who?”
“I'll tell you when the building is secured.”
Reyes stepped backward.
Maya saw it.
So did Priya.
Hale turned toward the desk lieutenant.
“Lock the garage access.”
Reyes said: