“Should’ve taken better care of it.”
Something tightened in Alicia’s chest.
Training told her to observe.
The investigation needed patterns.
Names.
Conduct.
Relationships.
One incident would not be enough to dismantle a system.
But watching cruelty and documenting it are two different things emotionally.
Alicia took out her phone.
Opened the camera.
Held it low.
Pressed record.
Granger leaned toward Devin.
“You’ve been warned about hanging around businesses.”
“I’m in the park.”
“Same area.”
“It’s public.”
Granger smiled.
“You planning to teach me law?”
Devin shook his head.
“No, sir.”
Across the street, Officer Trevor Pike looked up.
His eyes moved toward Alicia.
Then toward her phone.
He said something quietly to Granger.
Granger turned.
Alicia knew immediately.
Cover compromised.
He stepped off the curb.
Slowly.
Deliberately.
The other officers followed.
Alicia lowered the phone as if checking a message.
Granger stopped directly in front of her.
“What are you filming?”
Alicia looked up.
“The street.”
“The street.”
“Yes.”
Derek moved to her left.
Trevor moved right.
Granger held out his hand.
“Phone.”
“No.”
That answer changed his expression.
“I said give me the phone.”
“I heard you.”
“You refusing a lawful order?”
“I’m refusing to surrender personal property without legal justification.”
Derek laughed.
“Listen to this.”
He looked toward Granger.
“We got ourselves a constitutional scholar.”
Granger smiled.
“I love people who know the law.”
He leaned closer.
“They’re usually shocked when the law stops caring.”
Inside the convenience store, Sharon’s face changed.
She had seen that smile before.
Devin began gathering his belongings.
Mason kicked the broken photograph farther away.
Devin looked at him.
“Why are you doing this?”
“Doing what?”
“You know.”
Mason stepped closer.
“You want another problem?”
Alicia felt anger rising again.
She kept her voice level.
“I don’t want trouble.”
Granger turned toward her.
“Then hand over the phone.”
“No.”
He stared.
She stared back.
Finally, he nodded toward Derek.
“Get it.”
Derek reached for Alicia’s jacket.
Her body responded before thought.
One small pivot.
A shift in balance.
His hand missed.
Derek stopped.
So did Granger.
That movement had been too clean.
Too efficient.
Derek narrowed his eyes.
“You’re quick.”
Alicia immediately softened her stance.