Jayden opened his free hand.
“I’m not doing anything.”
Coley moved toward Eli.
“You too.”
Eli stepped back.
“Why?”
Coley shoved him toward the same tree.
His forearm came across Eli’s upper back.
“Because apparently nobody taught you how to listen.”
Noah took two steps forward.
“Hey. They didn’t do anything.”
Mercer turned his head.
“Stay back.”
Noah froze.
Mercer looked at him.
Then at Jayden.
Then back at Noah.
Something about the difference in treatment was obvious enough that several people nearby noticed it too.
Noah had asked a question.
Nobody grabbed him.
Jayden had asked nearly the same question.
He was pinned against a tree.
Noah quietly pulled out his phone.
He started recording.
Jayden focused on breathing.
His father had taught him that years earlier.
If something goes wrong, slow yourself down before you let someone else speed you up.
Jayden did exactly that.
His palms stayed open.
He did not twist away.
He did not curse.
“Officer,” he said, “I’m not resisting.”
Mercer leaned closer.
“You kids always say that after you start mouthing off.”
“We weren’t doing anything.”
“Sure.”
Eli turned his head.
“There are literally people watching.”
Coley pressed harder.
“Want to make this worse?”
“No.”
“Then shut up.”
Jayden felt anger rising.
Not because he was scared of Mercer.
Because he knew what Mercer wanted.
A reaction.
One sudden movement.
One shove.
One angry swing.
Then the whole story changed.
Teen attacks officer.
Teen becomes combative.
Officer forced to respond.
Jayden kept his hands open.
Then Mercer released him.
Jayden initially thought the officer had finally realized how ridiculous this looked.
He was wrong.
Mercer walked toward the skateboard resting near the bench.
He picked it up.
Jayden turned.
“Give that back.”
Mercer looked at the worn stickers.
“Your property?”
“Yes.”
Mercer smiled.
“Not for long.”
Jayden’s stomach tightened.
Mercer carried the board toward the tree.
He wedged one end against the trunk.
Noah’s camera caught everything.
“Officer,” Noah said loudly, “that’s his board.”
Mercer ignored him.
Jayden took one step forward.
Coley pointed at him.
“Don’t.”
Jayden stopped.
Mercer looked directly into Jayden’s eyes.
Then stomped down.
CRACK.
The deck broke.
Eli’s mouth fell open.
Noah whispered:
“What the hell?”
Mercer lifted both pieces.
“There. Problem solved. Try skating on that now.”
Coley laughed.
“Maybe Daddy can buy you another one.”
That was when Jayden gave him the warning.
Not a threat.
Not anger.
Just certainty.
“You should apologize before my dad finds out.”
Mercer laughed.
Until Jayden looked toward the parking lot.
Daniel Cole had not planned on coming to Brookside that afternoon.
His schedule had changed.
That was the only reason he was there.
Daniel was forty-seven, tall and broad-shouldered, with close-cropped hair beginning to gray near the temples. He had spent twenty-four years in law enforcement.
Patrol.
Narcotics.
Internal Affairs.
Precinct command.
And, six months earlier, he had been appointed Assistant Chief overseeing Professional Standards and Patrol Accountability.
Jayden rarely mentioned that.
At school, Daniel was simply Dad.
At home, he was the person who complained about shoes being left in the hallway and refused to accept “I forgot” as a meaningful explanation for unfinished chores.
Daniel had texted Jayden at 3:41.
Finished early. Want a ride?
Jayden replied:
Sure. Brookside.
Daniel expected to find his son attempting tricks and pretending his knees were indestructible.
Instead, as his SUV entered the lot, he saw a crowd gathering near the trees.
Then he recognized Jayden.
His stomach dropped.
He parked immediately.
By the time he stepped out, Mercer was holding two broken pieces of skateboard.
Coley was laughing.
Eli was still against the tree.
And Jayden’s face had the expression Daniel knew better than anyone.
Controlled anger.
Daniel began walking.
Not running.
His eyes moved across the scene like they had during thousands of police calls.
Jayden upright.
No obvious blood.
Eli frightened.
Noah filming.
Multiple civilian witnesses.
Mercer and Coley physically dominating a situation involving teenagers.
Daniel did not shout until he was close enough to be heard clearly.
“Take your hands off those kids.”
Mercer turned.
Annoyance appeared immediately.
“Sir, stay back. Police matter.”
Daniel kept walking.
“Yes.”
His eyes dropped to the broken skateboard.
“I can see that.”
Mercer extended one hand.
“Stay where you are.”
Daniel stopped several feet away.