“I heard you.”
“The initials are J.B.”
“I can spell.”
“Then what else do you want?”
Brenner stood.
“That attitude is exactly what’s going to turn this into a problem.”
Jalen laughed once.
He could not stop himself.
The officer’s expression changed completely.
“What’s funny?”
“Nothing.”
“No.”
Brenner stepped closer.
“Tell me.”
Jalen looked at him.
“You keep asking me to prove things.”
“I do.”
“I prove them.”
“And then you ask for something else.”
Silence.
Brenner reached toward Jalen’s shoulder.
“Put the phone away.”
Jalen stepped backward.
The officer’s hand froze.
“Do not pull away from me.”
“You didn't say you were touching me.”
Brenner’s voice sharpened.
“Hands where I can see them.”
Jalen lifted both hands immediately.
The phone remained in his right hand.
The skateboard fell.
It struck the pavement with a hard wooden clap.
Several people turned.
Jalen’s stomach dropped.
Brenner put one hand near his belt.
“Put the phone down.”
Jalen looked toward the ground.
“If I put it down, can I call my mom?”
“We’ll get to that.”
“She's right inside.”
“Phone.”
Jalen crouched slowly.
Brenner said:
“I didn't tell you to move.”
Jalen froze halfway down.
“You said put it down.”
“Then drop it.”
“It’ll break.”
Brenner stared.
Jalen let the phone fall the remaining eighteen inches.
It landed screen-up.
The family photograph remained visible.
His father smiled from the pavement.
Something about that nearly made Jalen cry.
He did not.
Brenner said:
“Turn around.”
Jalen’s heart started pounding.
“What?”
“Turn around.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m detaining you until I figure out who you are and what you’re doing here.”
“I told you.”
“Turn around.”
Jalen looked through the mall entrance again.
No Camille.
He thought about running.
Only for a fraction of a second.
He knew how stupid that would be.
Still, the thought appeared because he was fifteen and scared, not because he had done anything wrong.
He turned.
Brenner reached toward his wrist.
A woman’s voice came from behind them.
“Officer.”
Brenner stopped.
Jalen turned his head.
Camille Brooks was crossing the plaza.
She carried four shopping bags, two in each hand. Her navy double-breasted suit jacket was open over a cream blouse. Gold earrings caught the afternoon light. Her dark hair was pulled into a polished low bun.
She was fifty years old and looked younger when she smiled.
She was not smiling.
Jalen felt relief so suddenly that his knees weakened.
“Mom.”
Camille’s eyes moved over him.
Hands raised.
Phone on pavement.
Skateboard upside down.
Police officer behind him.
Every detail registered before she said anything else.
“Put your hands down, baby.”
Brenner turned toward her.
“Ma’am, stay back.”
Camille stopped.
She looked directly at him.
“I’m his mother.”
Brenner’s face changed slightly.
Not enough.
“I need you to stay back while I finish this detention.”