The caption appeared everywhere:
SHE DARED HIM.
Another version added a dramatic countdown.
FINAL WARNING.
NO.
FINAL WARNING.
NO.
WINDOW BREAKS.
Diane hated it.
She reported several videos.
None disappeared.
Clients began recognizing her.
One home seller canceled a meeting.
Her office manager called.
“We need to talk.”
Diane sat at her dining table.
“About the arrest?”
“About the attention.”
“I’m the victim here.”
There was a pause.
Her manager spoke carefully.
“I’m not making a judgment about the arrest.”
“Sounds like you are.”
“I’m saying your professional page is being flooded.”
“With harassment.”
“Yes.”
“So defend me.”
“We’ve removed comments.”
“I want the company to issue a statement.”
“No.”
Diane stood.
“What?”
“We are not issuing a company statement about an employee’s personal traffic arrest.”
“I’m not an employee. I’m an independent agent.”
“Exactly.”
“That’s worse.”
“Diane.”
“I have worked there nine years.”
“I know.”
“I brought in over six million in volume last year.”
“I know.”
“And now suddenly no one knows me.”
“No one said that.”
“You’re abandoning me.”
“No.”
“What would you call it?”
“Staying out of a legal matter.”
Diane hung up.
She immediately regretted it.
But pride stopped her from calling back.
On Wednesday, she met her attorney.
Thomas Brennan was sixty-one and had represented Diane through her divorce.
She trusted him.
Which meant she expected him to agree with her.
He watched the body-camera footage from beginning to end.
Diane sat beside him.
He did not speak.
The video showed Nathan approaching.
Requesting the window.
Explaining the violations.
Requesting the license.
Diane refusing.
Lisa arriving.
More refusals.
The order to exit.
The warning.
Another warning.
Another.
Then the shattered window.
Thomas paused the video.
Diane leaned forward.
“There.”
Thomas looked at her.
“What?”
“That’s excessive force.”