Cop Cuffs a Black G- at Dinner Party — By Midnight, His Station Was Surrounded
Chapter 5
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Kesler's hand tightened around the ID card. "Hold on. We don't know this is legitimate—""Tommy." Doyle's tone had gone flat and final. "Put the badge down. Sit in the breakroom. Don't say another word to him.""I had probable cause!" Kesler said louder now, and two officers across the booking floor turned to look. "He wouldn't identify himself when I ordered him to!""You didn't ask for identification," Reeves said quietly. "You told me to turn around."The room went still in the particular way rooms go still when everyone in it suddenly understands they've been watching something they'll be asked to explain later."Sir," Doyle said. "Your phone."He slid it across the counter. Reeves picked it up, and for a moment his thumb hovered over Danielle's name before he chose another contact instead—one buried three menus deep, one he hadn't called in over a year because he'd never needed to.The line rang twice."This is Ashworth.""Colonel, it's Marcus Reeves. I'm at the Third Precinct in Silver Hollow. I was arrested tonight at the Regency."A pause, brief and precise. "What happened?""The officer who arrested me acted on information given to the restaurant before he arrived.""What information?""That I didn't belong there."Silence on the other end—the kind that meant Ashworth understood exactly what those four words meant and exactly how bad the next twenty minutes were going to get for everyone involved."I'll have someone there in twenty minutes," Ashworth said finally. "Don't sign anything. Don't say anything else to them. And Marcus... is Danielle safe?""She's still at the Regency. I need someone to reach her.""Consider it done."Reeves ended the call and set the phone down on the counter with the same unhurried precision he'd used to empty his pockets an hour earlier.Kesler was watching him now with an expression that had started to curdle. Not remorse, not yet; something closer to a man watching a door close that he hadn't realized was the only one in the room."You still haven't told me," Reeves said, "who spoke to the staff before you arrived."Kesler's jaw worked. "I don't know what you're talking about.""Someone did. A man in a gray suit. He told the maître d' I didn't belong there, and left before you ever walked through those doors." Reeves let that sit for a second. "I'd start remembering, Officer Kesler. Because in about twenty minutes, remembering on your own is going to look a great deal better than being reminded."Kesler didn't answer. He set the ID card down on the counter with two fingers like it had gotten hot, and took a half-step back from it. "I want a union rep," he said to no one in particular—to the room."You'll want more than that," Doyle muttered.