" "Home. " His voice was steady but his chest tightened he knew this wasn't just a random stop. Rodriguez stepped closer "You live here? " "Yes, sir. A few blocks over.
". Bennett scoffed that right what the address Elijah started to answer but before he could Rodriguez grabbed his bag hey "That's my stuff. " "Relax. " Bennett muttered unzipping the bag and rumaging through it shoes a sweaty Jersey a water bottle nothing "Suspicious? " But Bennett wasn't done "Why' you cut through this neighborhood?
" Elijah's heart pounded "It's just a shortcut. I'm not doing anything wrong. " Rodriguez looked at Bennett uncertain "Maybe he's telling the truth. ". Bennett didn't budge "Then why' someone call the cops on him?
". Elijah opened his mouth but his breath caught as he noticed something over the officer's shoulders a Bleak black SUV rolling toward them it pulled up stopping sharply the doors opened and out stepped. Denise Brooks the Mayor of Columbus but the officers had no idea who they had just stopped and neither did Linder. The air seemed to shift the moment Denise Brook stepped out of the SUV she wasn't just any mother she was the mayor of Columbus and she carried herself like it dressed in a sharp Navy Blazer and heels that clicked against the pavement she moved with purpose not running not panicked. But controlled a woman who was used to walking into rooms where people doubted her Authority and reminding them exactly who she was her eyes locked onto the two officers standing over her son her son Bennett's posture stiffened as she approached he had seen her.
Before on the news at city meetings but it took a second for his brain to catch up to the moment Rodriguez was the first to speak "Ma'am, I need you to step back. We're handling a situation. ". Denise didn't flinch "Oh, I see that. " Her voice was smooth but sharp enough to cut through steel "And what exactly is the situation?
". Elijah exhaled relief washing over him "Mom. " She held up her hand a silent message I've got this Bennett cleared his throat we received a call about a "Suspicious? " Person in the area. Denise arched a brow "Suspicious?
". Rodriguez gestured to elijah we stopped him to ask some questions we need to confirm if he actually lives here. Denise let out a slow measured breath then she pulled out her phone tapped a few times and held it up "That's my son. " On the screen was Elijah's student ID their address and a picture of the two of them at a community event just last month. Silence rodriguez shifted uncomfortably Bennett's jaw tightened.