Denise wasn't done so tell me did you stop him because he was "Suspicious? " Or because someone assumed he didn't belong. Neither officer answered behind them Linda stood frozen in her doorway watching the entire thing unfold she had recognized Denise the moment she stepped out of the SUV and the moment she put the pieces together. Her stomach dropped she had called the police on the mayor's son she had called the police on a kid who was just walking home. And now she was standing there watching as a mother who happened to be one of the most powerful women in the city stared down two officers who suddenly had nothing to say.
But just because the officers had gone quiet didn't mean Denise was done talking. Denise took a slow step forward her eyes locked onto the officers the air felt heavier now like everyone was holding their breath waiting to see what she'd do next she didn't yell she didn't curse she didn't have to. Her voice was steady precise cutting you searched his bag you questioned where he lived you assumed he didn't belong Bennett squared his shoulders "We were just following procedure. " Denise tilted her head slightly "Procedure? ".
Rodriguez shifted uncomfortably we got a call about a "Suspicious? " Person Denise took another step "A teenage boy walking home. " Neither officer had an answer for that Elijah rubbed his hands together still feeling the sting of being treated like a suspect in his own neighborhood. Denise turned finally looking directly at Linda who stood Frozen in her doorway "Was it you? " Denise asked Linda opened her mouth then shut it the waight of the moment crushed her she didn't mean for this to happen she didn't think it would go this far she wasn't racist she told herself she was just being cautious.
But now she was staring at a mother one who had to leave her job rush into her own neighborhood and defend her son from the police over nothing. Linda's face turned red she swallowed I I just thought Denise Cut Her Off "You thought what? ". Linda had no answer that wouldn't make her sound exactly like the person she never wanted to believe she was. Denise's gaze didn't waver "Do you know what could have happened here?
" Linda looked down. Elijah could could have been tackled arrested slammed against a squad car for resisting or worse and all. Because a woman who had lived in the same house for 15 years decided that the sight of a black teenager with a gym bag was enough to dial 911. Denise didn't need to say it Linda already knew. The officers knew too but instead of apologizing Bennett shifted "If there's no issue here, we'll be on our way.
". Denise exhaled sharply "That's it? " Rodriguez hesitated "Look, we were just responding to a call. ". Denise shook her head disappointment settling in "Yeah, you were.