“Ma’am, if you keep stepping toward me after I tell you to back up, you are going to make this situation much worse.”
Vanessa stopped.
For three seconds, no one spoke.
Then she looked at the phone in her hand.
“I’m calling 911.”
Mercer stared at her.
“You don’t need to call 911. We are already here.”
“Yes, I do.”
She unlocked the phone.
“I’m reporting you.”
“Put the phone down and collect your belongings.”
“No.”
“Vanessa.”
She held the phone to her ear.
Mercer exchanged a glance with Cole.
The dispatcher answered.
Vanessa spoke loudly.
“Yes, I need police at Blue Harbor Resort.”
Mercer looked at her.
“You have police standing in front of you.”
Vanessa turned away.
“I’m being threatened by officers and hotel staff.”
Mercer stepped closer.
“End the call.”
She raised one finger at him.
“Do not touch my phone.”
“End the call.”
“I am reporting you.”
Cole moved to Vanessa’s left side.
“Ma’am, you’re interfering with an emergency line.”
“I have an emergency.”
“What is the emergency?”
“You.”
That was the point when the afternoon changed.
Mercer reached for Vanessa’s wrist.
Not violently.
Not suddenly.
He simply took control of the arm holding the phone.
Vanessa jerked backward.
“Do not touch me!”
“Put your hands behind your back.”
“What are you doing?”
“Hands behind your back.”
“You cannot arrest me!”
“Stop pulling away.”
“I’m not pulling away!”
She was.
Cole took the other arm.
Vanessa twisted.
One sandal slipped halfway off her foot.
Her handbag dropped to the ground.
People around the pool went silent.
“Stop!”
Vanessa screamed.
Mercer guided her downward because she continued twisting away.
Her knees touched the concrete.
She shrieked as if she had been thrown from a moving car.
“What is wrong with you?”
“Stop resisting.”
“I am not resisting!”
“Give me your arm.”
“You’re hurting me!”
“Give me your arm.”
“I didn’t do anything!”
Cole secured Vanessa’s left wrist.
Mercer brought the right wrist behind her back.
The cuffs clicked shut.
Vanessa froze.