Sullivan's face twisted with rage. This little girl had just insulted him in front of dozens of witnesses. Nobody talked to him that way, especially not some lying teenager from the projects.
"That's it," he snarled, reaching for his handcuffs. "You're under arrest for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest."
"Resisting arrest?" Maya's voice cracked with disbelief. "I'm sitting on a curb!"
But Sullivan was already calling for backup on his radio: "Unit 23 requesting assistance with a belligerent juvenile. The suspect is being uncooperative."
Maya's phone, still in Sullivan's hand, buzzed again. This time, he didn't bother reading it aloud. The text simply said: On my way. Stay calm, baby girl.
Across the street, a black SUV with government plates pulled up to the curb. The engine turned off, and the driver's door opened slowly.
The backup unit arrived within three minutes, sirens blaring unnecessarily through the peaceful park area. Officer James Mitchell stepped out, looking confused as he surveyed the scene: a teenage girl sitting quietly on a curb, surrounded by scattered school papers, while dozens of tourists filmed with their phones.
"What's the situation, Sullivan?" Mitchell asked, clearly puzzled by the apparent lack of any actual disturbance.
"Juvenile suspect was filming police officers without permission, creating a public disturbance, and resisting lawful orders," Sullivan rattled off, his chest puffed with authority. "She's been belligerent and uncooperative."
Maya looked up from the curb, her voice steady despite her racing heart. "Officer Mitchell, I showed Officer Sullivan my school permission letter and student ID. I was doing homework for my journalism class. I've been sitting here quietly since he told me to."
Mitchell glanced at the scattered papers around Maya. He could clearly see official school letterhead and what appeared to be interview questions. His brow furrowed with confusion.
"Sullivan, her stuff looks like legitimate school materials. What exactly did she do wrong?"
Sullivan's jaw tightened. His own partner was questioning him, and now backup was doing the same in front of all these witnesses. His authority was being undermined, and he wasn't going to stand for it.
"She was filming us secretly, trying to create one of those viral videos to make the police look bad," Sullivan insisted. "And when I asked about her purpose here, she started lying about her family. Claims her mother works for the FBI."
Several people in the crowd exchanged glances. A woman whispered to her husband, "Even if she was lying, is that illegal?"
Maya felt heat rising in her cheeks, but she kept her voice respectful. "I wasn't filming secretly. I introduced myself, showed my credentials, and asked permission to interview officers. That's when Officer Sullivan became aggressive."