The chief shook his head.
“Real name.”
“That is my real name.”
“Agency?”
The Black man told him.
The chief laughed.
“Office?”
The Black man named the regional field office.
The chief’s expression did not change.
“Supervisor?”
The Black man gave a name.
The chief pointed toward one of the patrol officers.
“Call that office.”
The officer hesitated.
The chief turned sharply.
“I said call.”
The officer reached for the desk phone.
The Black man spoke for the first time with urgency.
“Use the number printed on the credential.”
The chief looked toward him.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m not stupid.”
The Black man almost smiled.
The chief continued:
“If this is some fraud setup, the number in your fake badge wallet goes to whoever’s helping you.”
The Black man’s expression became still.
“You know the agency’s public number.”
The chief said nothing.
“You could search it.”
No answer.
“You could call directory assistance.”
No answer.
“You could contact the state fusion center.”
Still nothing.
The Black man looked toward the three officers.
“You could verify me six different ways without trusting a single piece of information I brought in.”
The older white officer closest to the cabinets looked uncomfortable.
The chief noticed.
He snapped:
“He doesn’t run this room.”
Nobody moved.
The Black man looked back at him.
“That’s the problem.”
The chief’s fist tightened.
For half a second, the younger officer looked as though he might step forward.
Then he stopped.
The chief leaned down.
“You think because you sit there calm, you’re in control?”
“No.”
“Then wipe that look off your face.”
“What look?”
“That one.”
The Black man stared.
The chief straightened.
“Arrogant.”
The Black man looked toward the unopened credential.
“No.”
He returned his gaze.
“Prepared.”
The chief laughed once.
Short.
Angry.
Then he walked behind the chair and pulled the rope tighter.
The Black man’s shoulders jerked slightly.
No cry.
No curse.
The chief seemed disappointed.
“You want to know what I think?”
The Black man answered:
“No.”
One patrol officer almost smiled.
The chief heard the breath.
He turned.