Then:
“Scott Brenner?”
Brenner stepped forward.
“Mrs.—”
Camille looked at him.
“Brooks.”
His face changed again.
Camille continued into the phone:
“Jalen was waiting for me on a bench with his skateboard.”
“Officer Brenner says he may be connected to a recent theft.”
“He has not been shown a matching report description.”
“He attempted to verify his identity by showing a family photograph.”
“And I arrived while Officer Brenner was instructing him to turn around.”
Henley’s voice became careful.
“Is Jalen restrained?”
“Not yet.”
Brenner interrupted.
“Chief, there’s context here.”
Camille held the phone slightly toward him.
“Then provide it.”
For several seconds Brenner said nothing.
Chief Henley asked:
“Scott?”
Brenner looked around.
People were watching now.
Not openly recording yet.
One teenager near the fountain definitely had his phone pointed toward them.
Brenner said:
“I had reasonable suspicion based on recent theft complaints and evasive responses.”
Jalen stared.
“Evasive?”
Camille looked toward him.
Again, the hand.
Not yet.
Henley said:
“What evasive response?”
Brenner glanced at Jalen.
“He couldn't identify where his mother was.”
Camille’s eyebrows rose.
“I was shopping.”
“He had no identification.”
“He is fifteen.”
“He became argumentative.”
Chief Henley’s voice changed.
“Scott.”
Brenner stopped.
Henley continued:
“Do you have a specific complainant tying that juvenile to a theft?”
“No.”
“Video?”
“Not yet.”
“Matching serial number?”
“No.”
“Witness?”
“No.”
“Is he currently in possession of stolen property confirmed by report?”
“No.”
Silence.
Henley said:
“Then why are you putting hands on him?”
Brenner’s face reddened.
“He stepped away from me.”
Jalen whispered:
“Because you grabbed me.”
Brenner looked toward him.
Camille stepped slightly between them.
Not fully.
Enough.
Chief Henley said:
“Scott, disengage.”
Brenner stared at the phone.
“Chief—”
“Disengage.”
The officer stepped backward.
Jalen lowered his hands.
His shoulders immediately began trembling.
Camille saw.
She wanted to hug him.
She did not yet.
She picked up his phone first.
The glass had cracked across one corner.
Andre’s face remained visible beneath it.
Camille closed her eyes briefly.
Then handed it to Jalen.
“You okay?”
He nodded.
“No.”
She looked at him.
Jalen’s eyes filled.
“I don't know.”
Camille touched his cheek.
“That’s okay.”
Brenner shifted.
Chief Henley was still on the line.
Camille turned.
“We’re not finished.”
Brenner laughed once.