For one strange moment, the anger disappeared from her face.
She looked shocked.
Not merely surprised.
Shocked.
She turned her head and saw the people watching.
The mothers.
The teenagers.
The bartender.
The security staff.
Her friends.
Everyone.
And then humiliation flooded back into anger.
“Why am I arrested?”
Mercer helped her stand.
“I’ll explain it to you.”
“Why am I arrested?”
“We will explain.”
“Why am I arrested?”
“Vanessa.”
“Why am I arrested?”
Mercer picked up her handbag.
“You were given multiple lawful commands to leave. You refused. You continued escalating, and you resisted when we detained you.”
“You never read me my rights.”
Mercer looked at her.
“I don’t have to read Miranda warnings simply to place you under arrest.”
“That is not true.”
“It is.”
“No, it isn’t.”
Mercer handed the handbag to Cole.
Vanessa pulled against the handcuffs.
“My lawyer is going to destroy you.”
“Stop pulling.”
“You have no idea who I know.”
Mercer guided her toward the gate.
Vanessa looked at Daniel.
“This hotel is done.”
Daniel said nothing.
“You hear me?”
He looked directly at her.
“Yes.”
“I will make sure everyone I know hears about this.”
Daniel nodded.
“That is your right.”
“You think you’re funny?”
“No.”
“I spent thousands here.”
Daniel’s expression did not change.
“I know.”
“And this is how you treat people?”
Daniel finally answered.
“This is how we respond when someone refuses to leave after being asked repeatedly.”
Vanessa stared at him.
For once, she had no immediate response.
Mercer walked her through the hotel.
Guests in the lobby looked up.
Vanessa tried to pull her cover-up lower with cuffed hands.
It would not move.
“My bag,” she said.
“Deputy Cole has it.”
“My phone?”
“With your property.”
“I need my phone.”
“You’ll get access to your property later.”
“I need to call my children.”
“We’re working on that.”
“My daughter is eleven.”
“Who is she with?”
“My friend.”