Maya raised her voice, clear and commanding. "Keep your hands visible, all of you." Pike laughed, a harsh sound that echoed across the yard. "You giving orders now?"
"Real cute." "You are standing on private property without consent," Maya continued, her tone steady despite the tension crackling through the air. "You have no warrant, no probable cause, and no lawful authority to detain us."
"Listen to her," Pike said to his officers, mockery dripping from every word. "Thinks she's a lawyer now. Maybe she watched some TV shows in county lockup." Shaw snickered.
Cole remained silent, his nervous eyes darting between the twins and his sergeant. Pike climbed another step, close enough now that Maya could smell the coffee on his breath. "You want to know about authority? Here's your authority."
He reached for Maya's wrist with practiced confidence, the same grab he had used on dozens of suspects over the years. His thick fingers closed around her arm. Maya reacted with trained defensive reflexes, broke Pike's grip, and stepped aside. His own momentum carried him forward.
Pike stumbled, his balance gone, and grabbed desperately for the porch railing to keep from falling. The railing shuddered under his weight as he caught himself breathing hard. Shaw's face contorted with rage. "She assaulted him. She attacked a police officer."
He charged up the steps, his heavy boots pounding against the wood. Naomi moved between them like a wall, her hands raised but not threatening. "Stop," she commanded, her voice cutting through Shaw's fury.
"Everyone stop right now." Shaw pulled up short, inches from Naomi's position. Pike straightened against the railing, his face burning with humiliation. Three of his officers had just watched a suspect break his hold without breaking a sweat.
"You want to resist arrest?" Pike snarled, his authority cracking like thin ice. "You want to assault police officers? Fine."
"You just made this a felony." Maya's eyes blazed. "I defended myself against unlawful contact. You grabbed me without cause."
"Unlawful contact?" Pike's voice rose to a shout. "I'm conducting an investigation. You attacked me."
"I removed your hand from my person," Maya said coldly. "Nothing more." Shaw jabbed a finger toward her.
Bull. You threw him down those steps. I did not strike anyone. I did not use force.
I simply moved away from unwanted contact. Pike pushed away from the railing. His composure shattered. The calm confidence he had projected moments earlier was gone, replaced by raw anger and wounded pride.
"That's assault on a police officer," he declared, his voice shaking with fury. "Both of you are under arrest." Maya and Naomi looked at each other. A single glance passed between the twins.
Silent communication that had developed over 36 years of shared experiences. Then, with movements so synchronized they might have been choreographed, both women reached inside their jackets. Pike tensed. Shaw's hand dropped toward his weapon.
Mercer stepped forward. The twins pulled their hands free in perfect unison. Gold federal badges caught the afternoon sunlight like mirrors. Special Agent Maya Carter, FBI.
Special Agent Naomi Carter, FBI. The credentials hung in the air between them, official and undeniable. The FBI eagles gleamed against black leather cases. Identification photos matched the faces staring back at the officers.
Cole immediately stepped backward, his hands rising away from his belt. His face went pale as the implications hit him. Shaw's mouth fell open. Mercer froze in place.
Pike stared at the badges for three long seconds. Then his expression hardened into something uglier than before. "Nice try," he said, his voice dripping with contempt. Real convincing props.
Where'd you buy them? Internet? Some costume shop? Maya's voice stayed level.
"Call the FBI field office. Verify our credentials." "Could be stolen," Pike continued, ignoring her completely. "Could be fake."
Could be anything. Criminals carry all kinds of fake identification. Naomi pulled out her phone, fingers moving across the screen. "Call the FBI Washington Field Office. Ask for Special Agent Patricia Williams, assistant special agent in charge. She'll verify our employment status immediately."
Pike's jaw worked like he was chewing something bitter. "I'm not calling anyone based on your word. You're both under detention until we verify who you really are." "Then make the verification call," Maya said.
Pike reached for his radio instead. His thumb pressed the transmit button with deliberate force. "Dispatch, this is Sergeant Pike. I need Lieutenant Keller at my location immediately."
"Priority response." Naomi's eyebrows rose. "You're calling your lieutenant instead of the FBI field office." Pike clipped the radio back to his belt, satisfaction creeping across his face.
Lieutenant Keller handles all verification procedures for this precinct. He'll know what to do with fake federal credentials. Pike paced beside his patrol car, the phone pressed tight against his ear. His voice carried across the yard in harsh whispers, but the words were lost in the distance.
The other three officers maintained their positions around the porch, creating a loose perimeter that kept the twins isolated. Cole shifted uncomfortably, his eyes moving between the FBI badges still visible in the twins' hands and Pike's agitated phone conversation. The afternoon sun beat down on his uniform, sweat gathering under his collar despite the cool October air. "Sergeant," Cole called out, his voice tentative.
"Maybe we should verify through dispatch. Standard procedure for federal credentials is..." Pike's head snapped toward him, the phone still against his ear. His free hand slashed through the air in a cutting gesture that silenced Cole immediately.
Pike's eyes held a warning that needed no words. Speak again and face consequences. Cole's mouth closed with an almost audible click. He looked down at his boots, jaw working silently.
Shaw moved closer to the porch steps, his phone appearing in his hands, the camera lens focused on Maya's opened credential case. Hey. Maya pulled the badge back against her chest. What do you think you're doing?
Shaw grinned without humor. "Documenting evidence. These fake badges are going to look real nice in the police report." He raised the phone again, trying to get a clear shot of Naomi's credentials.
Naomi turned her body, shielding the identification from his camera. "Those are official federal documents," she said firmly. "You don't have authorization to photograph them." Shaw's grin widened.