Marcus raised one hand.
“Don’t.”
Polk stopped.
Marcus looked toward Harlan.
The sergeant’s face had gone pale.
“I didn’t know.”
Marcus rubbed his wrist.
“No.”
Harlan swallowed.
“You should have identified yourself.”
Marcus’s eyes hardened slightly.
“I did.”
“I mean as chief.”
“That would have changed your behavior?”
Harlan opened his mouth.
Marcus waited.
No answer came.
The elevator doors opened.
Laura Mitchell emerged at almost a run.
She saw Marcus.
Then Harlan.
Then papers scattered across the counter.
Her expression became something Marcus had not seen from her before.
Pure fury.
“Sergeant Harlan.”
“Deputy Chief—”
“Remove your hands from your belt.”
Harlan looked confused.
“They’re not—”
“Hands visible.”
Every officer in the lobby froze.
Harlan slowly lifted them.
Marcus watched Laura carefully.
“Laura.”
She looked at him.
“Are you injured?”
“No.”
“Did he strike you?”
“Yes.”
Her jaw clenched.
Harlan spoke.
“He was refusing a lawful detention.”
Marcus turned.
“What was the lawful basis?”
“Trespassing.”
“Where?”
“He crossed—”
Emily interrupted.
“He didn’t.”
Everyone looked at her.
Emily’s face went red.
But she continued.
“I told him to stand there.”
Harlan stared.
“You need to stay out of this.”
Marcus looked toward her.
“No.”
Harlan stopped.
Marcus continued.
“She was present.”
Emily swallowed.
“I told Chief Carter to wait beside the counter. Sergeant Harlan came in and told him to back up. Chief Carter asked if the area was restricted. Then Sergeant Harlan demanded ID, even though I told him I had already seen identification.”
Laura looked at Harlan.
“What identification?”
Emily hesitated.
“His chief credential.”
Harlan shut his eyes.
Only for a second.
Marcus saw it.
Laura did too.
Emily continued.
“He didn't want me announcing who he was.”
Harlan looked at Marcus.
“So this was a setup?”
That changed everything.
Marcus’s expression cooled.
“A setup?”
“You came in here hiding your identity.”
“I entered through the front door.”
“You let me think—”
Marcus stepped closer.
Harlan unconsciously stepped backward.
“Finish that sentence.”
Harlan stared.
Marcus’s voice remained quiet.
“You let me think what?”
No answer.
“That you were some random civilian,” Harlan finally said.
Marcus nodded slowly.
“Exactly.”
He looked around the lobby.
The teenage boy seated beside his mother was watching.
The elderly man had stopped filling out paperwork.
The delivery driver stood motionless.
All of them had witnessed the encounter.
Marcus pointed toward them.
“You mean one of them.”
Harlan’s face changed.