Outside, Mercer was talking to Daniel.
Cole was speaking with Kelly near the hotel entrance.
No one was looking directly at Vanessa.
She pulled harder.
The cuff scraped painfully over the base of her thumb.
Then suddenly her hand came free.
Vanessa stared at it.
Her right hand was loose.
For half a second she felt triumph.
Then fear.
She looked at the door handle.
The rear door could not be opened from inside.
She lifted her free hand toward the window.
Mercer turned.
Their eyes met.
He stared at the loose cuff hanging from her left wrist.
Vanessa froze.
Mercer walked toward the vehicle.
“Vanessa.”
She began shaking her head.
“I didn’t do anything.”
“Put your hand where I can see it.”
“It slipped.”
“Put your hand where I can see it.”
“I didn’t do anything.”
Mercer opened the door.
“Step out.”
“No.”
“Step out.”
“It came off.”
“Step out now.”
Vanessa pressed herself against the opposite seat.
Cole hurried over.
“What happened?”
“She got a hand out.”
Vanessa shouted, “It slipped!”
Mercer reached in.
“Step out.”
“I’m not fighting you.”
“Then step out.”
She did.
The moment both feet hit the pavement, Mercer took her free wrist.
Vanessa jerked.
“Stop!”
“Do not pull away.”
“You’re hurting me again.”
Cole secured the second wrist.
This time they checked both cuffs carefully.
Vanessa began crying.
It was not dramatic at first.
Just tears.
Real tears.
Then came anger.
“You people are treating me like I’m dangerous.”
Mercer looked at her.
“You just removed your hand from a restraint.”
“It slipped.”
“You were twisting your hand.”
“You weren’t watching.”
Mercer stared at her.
Vanessa realized what she had said.
Cole looked away.
Mercer took a slow breath.
“Back in the vehicle.”
Vanessa sat.
This time she immediately put both legs inside.
The door closed.