“I know.”
“They wouldn’t listen.”
Marcus put both hands on his shoulders.
“You’re okay.”
Malik shook his head.
“No, I'm not.”
Marcus stopped.
That answer hurt more than anything he could have said.
Langley stepped toward Price.
“What was the basis for detention?”
Price swallowed.
“Possible burglary, Chief.”
“Burglary?”
“Caller reported a suspicious male attempting entry.”
Langley looked at Malik’s backpack.
Then at the house.
“Did you verify the residents?”
“We were in the process.”
“How?”
Silence.
Langley looked at Shaw.
“Officer?”
Shaw answered carefully.
“We requested identification.”
“Did you run the name?”
“Not yet.”
“Did you ask dispatch for the homeowner?”
“No, sir.”
“Did you knock on the door?”
Neither answered.
Marcus looked at Karen.
“You called them?”
Karen’s confidence returned slightly.
“I saw someone sneaking around your property.”
“My son.”
“I had no way of knowing that.”
Marcus stared at her.
“You've met Malik.”
Karen’s expression shifted.
“Maybe once.”
Malik stepped forward.
“You complained about my basketball hoop last month.”
Karen ignored him.
Marcus continued.
“You sent me an email with his name in it.”
Langley looked at her.
Karen blinked.
“That has nothing to do with today.”
“It has everything to do with today,” Marcus said.
Price tried to redirect.
“Chief, she reported possible criminal activity. We responded appropriately.”
Langley turned slowly.
“Appropriately?”
Price glanced at Malik.
“The subject became argumentative.”
Malik snapped:
“I told you where I lived!”
Marcus touched his arm.
Langley looked at Price’s body camera.
“Is that running?”
“Yes, Chief.”
“Good.”
Then he looked at Shaw.
“Yours?”
Shaw checked.
“Yes, sir.”
Langley nodded.
“Nobody turns anything off.”
Price’s face tightened.
“I understand.”
“No.”
Langley’s voice became colder.
“I don't think you do.”
Karen folded her arms.
“Chief, with all due respect, your officers were protecting the community.”
Marcus turned.
“From my sixteen-year-old carrying milk?”
Karen looked at the carton lying beside Malik’s backpack.
“He was trying gates.”
“The garage keypad failed.”
“You don't know what I saw.”
Marcus stepped toward her.
Langley quietly moved between them.
Not because Marcus had threatened her.
Because everyone was angry enough already.
Karen pointed toward Malik.
“People in this neighborhood pay a lot of money for security.”
Malik looked at her.
“My parents pay the same HOA dues you do.”
“That isn't the point.”
“What is the point?”
Karen stopped.
Malik’s voice cracked.
“What exactly about me made you decide I didn't live here?”