Behind them stood Eric, a 23-year-old junior software developer who had popped in to grab a forgotten laptop. Eric was a brilliant coder, but not a fighter. However, he understood the modern world perfectly. Realizing the gravity of what he was witnessing, Eric silently pulled his smartphone from his pocket, hit record, and aimed the camera directly at the altercation.
"Officer," Marcus warned softly, noticing the phone in Eric's hand. "You are making a catastrophic mistake that will follow you for the rest of your life. Look at the screen on the turnstile. Let me reach into my pocket for my state ID."
"Hands where I can see them!" Braddock ordered, stepping back and dropping his hand firmly onto his holster, unstrapping the retention snap.
"My hands are visible," Marcus said calmly, raising them slightly to shoulder height, palms open. "I am calmly telling you that I am Marcus Sterling. If you won't read the plaque, ask the staff standing right there behind you."
Maria, trembling so hard the spray bottles on her cart rattled, took a timid step forward. "Officer... please, stop. That is Mr. Sterling. He owns the whole building. Please don't hurt him."
"Quiet!" Braddock snapped, not even glancing at her. "He probably paid you off, or he's dealing to you. Turn around. Hands behind your back. Now!"
Knowing Eric's camera was capturing every frame and every syllable in ultra-high definition, Marcus spoke with crystal clarity. "I am not resisting. I am stating, for the legal record, that I am the legal owner of this commercial property. I have committed no crime. If you arrest me, it will be unlawful, and you will be held personally and professionally liable."
"Tell it to the judge, tough guy," Braddock scoffed. He grabbed Marcus's wrist, twisting it roughly behind the CEO's back, and slapped on the heavy steel handcuffs. The harsh, metallic clicks echoed through the pristine, silent lobby, a jarring sound of indignity. Marcus stood tall, his posture unbowed, his brilliant mind already calculating the legal storm he was about to unleash upon the city.
"You're hurting him!" Eric finally shouted, his voice cracking, but his hands keeping the phone perfectly steady. "He's the CEO of Sterling Technologies!"
Braddock pointed a vicious finger at the young developer. "Back off, kid, or you're getting locked up for interfering. This is a crime scene." Braddock grabbed his shoulder mic. "Dispatch, Unit 4-Alpha. I have one male suspect in custody at 400 Commerce Way. Trespassing, resisting arrest, possession of stolen corporate credentials. Send a transport unit."