"I am."
"Then cooperate."
"With what?"
Brett stopped close enough that Ruth shifted toward them. "Give me the item."
"Identify it."
"You already know."
"Then you should have no trouble saying it."
Brett's jaw tightened. Maya turned slightly toward the phone again; he noticed.
"Don't."
She looked at him. "Don't what?"
"Touch the phone."
"Am I detained?"
Brett did not answer. Maya reached toward it. Brett moved first and caught her wrist; she pulled her hand back.
"Let go."
"I told you not to interfere."
"You told me not to use my own phone."
"You were trying to contact someone involved."
"You don't know who I was calling."
"I know enough."
Maya twisted her wrist free and stepped back. "Do not touch me again."
Brett followed her behind the counter. Ruth moved between them, but Brett angled around her.
"Brett, stop," Ruth said.
He did not. Maya reached for the phone a second time. Brett blocked her arm and moved closer, controlling her upper body so she could not reach the counter: his forearm came across the top of her shoulder and near her neck as he tried to hold her in place.
Maya immediately stiffened. "Get off me."
"Stop fighting me."
"I'm not fighting you!"
She tried to pull his arm away enough to turn. Brett tightened his control.
"You need to calm down."
"Let me go!"
Daniel stood. "Officer, she told you to release her."
Brett looked toward him without loosening his hold. "Sit down."
Daniel hesitated.
Eli pushed himself halfway out of his booth. "Brett, that's enough."
"Stay out of it, Eli."
"She can't move."
"She's being restrained."
"For what?"
Brett did not answer. Maya tried again to create space between his arm and her neck.
"Brett, let go of me." Her voice was less steady now.
Caleb stepped away from the rear booth. He moved slowly and stopped several feet from them. "Officer."
Brett looked at him. "Back up."
Caleb stayed where he was. "She told you to release her."
"She's interfering with an investigation."
"You still haven't said she's under arrest."
"She doesn't need to be under arrest for me to detain her."
"Then state why she's detained."
Brett's face hardened. "I don't answer to you."
"No, but she asked you to let go."