"You don't give me orders," Caldwell spat, adrenaline rushing through his system.
"No," Damon replied, his voice chillingly calm. "I am giving you an opportunity."
Catches This"
Ignoring the warning, Caldwell pulled his metal handcuffs free with his left hand and
snapped them open with a loud, aggressive clack. "Give me the bag right now, or I'll tase
both of you and take it."
Damon's expression remained perfectly controlled, a masterclass in emotional
discipline. "We haven't committed a crime."
"You're under arrest," Caldwell announced loudly, ensuring the crowd heard him.
"For what?"
"Obstruction of justice."
Kelvin shifted slightly, his eyes leaving the Taser and locking onto the black lens of
Caldwell's body camera. "Make sure your camera catches this part," Kelvin said softly.
The sentence profoundly unsettled Caldwell. It wasn't a threat of violence. It was a
promise of consequences. His sneer deepened, but his grip on the Taser wavered for just a
fraction of a second.
"What part?" Caldwell demanded, his voice cracking slightly.
Kelvin did not answer.
Damon slowly, deliberately, began to rise from the bench. The red laser of the Taser
tracked upward, staying dead center on his chest.
"Hands behind your back!" Caldwell shouted, his finger brushing the trigger.
Damon stopped his ascent halfway, hovering in a semi-crouch. "My hands are visible."
"I said put them behind your back!"
"You are pointing a weapon at an unarmed man simply because he declined an
unlawful search," Damon stated, making sure his words were clear for every camera
present.
Caldwell's finger tightened. "Last warning."
Damon and Kelvin exchanged one controlled, meaningful look. It lasted less than a
single second, a silent communication built on years of shared fieldwork.
Then, both men moved carefully. They reached their hands slowly up toward the
collars of their shirts.
Caldwell's poorly trained body reacted before his mind could process the deliberate
nature of their movements. The Taser rose higher. "Hands! Show me your hands!"
Two silver chains slid from beneath the heavy hoodies. Two solid gold badges
dropped, catching the sunlight before settling heavily against their chests.
The bright spring afternoon seemed to freeze.
Caldwell stared at the metal shields. The bold blue enamel lettering on the badge
hanging from Damon's chain was impossible to misread: FEDERAL BUREAU OF
INVESTIGATION.
Kelvin's badge carried the exact same heavy seal.
Caldwell's arrogant smile vanished instantly. His eyes widened to the point of strain, and
all the blood drained from his face. The hand holding the Taser began to tremble violently.