We have to process you first. " Braden interrupted. "Empty your pockets. " Since her hands were cuffed, Braden reached into her tracksuit pocket. He pulled out a slim leather wallet.
He tossed it onto the counter in front of Miller. "Check it," Braden said. "She claims she's some kind of judge. " Miller put down his coffee mug. He reached out and opened the wallet.
The air in the room seemed to be sucked into a vacuum. Sergeant Miller stared at the contents of the wallet. First, he saw the driver's license. Evelyn Marie Moore. The address was on Maple Drive, the most expensive street in the district.
Then he flipped the flap. There, behind clear plastic was a gold badge. It wasn't a police badge. It was the seal of the state judiciary. Below it was an identification card.
The Honorable Evelyn M. Moore, Presiding Judge, Family Court Division, Superior Court of the State. Miller stared at it for a full 5 seconds. He blinked. He read it again.
He looked at the photo on the ID, then looked at the woman standing in front of him. It was the same face. Miller felt the blood drain from his face. His heart skipped a beat, then hammered against his ribs. He slowly closed the wallet and looked up at Braden.
His expression was one of profound pity and horror. "Braden," Miller whispered. Give me the keys to the cuffs. What? Braden asked, confused.
Why? We haven't printed her yet. Give me the goddamn keys. Miller roared, slamming his hand on the counter. The sound echoed through the room like a gunshot.
Every officer in the bullpen stopped what they were doing and looked over. Braden flinched. He fumbled for his keys and handed them to the sergeant. Miller came around the desk moving faster than he had in years. He walked behind Evelyn and unlocked the cuffs.
"Judge Moore," Miller said, his voice trembling slightly. "I am. I cannot apologize enough. " Evelyn brought her hands forward. She rubbed her wrists.
Deep red indentations circled her skin. She looked at them, then looked at Miller. Sergeant, she said coldly. Who is the watch commander on duty? Captain Henderson, ma'am.
He's in his office. Get him now. Miller turned to a young officer standing nearby, open-mouthed. Get the captain. Run.
Braden was standing there looking between Miller and Evelyn. The arrogance was evaporating, replaced by a dawning, sickening realization. Sarge, is it is it real? Miller looked at Braden with disgust. You idiot.
You absolute. You just arrested Judge Moore. Do you have any idea what you've done? I She matched the description. Braden stammered, his voice rising in panic.
She refused ID. She's a federal level judge in this state. Miller hissed. She signs the warrants you ask for. She puts the people you arrest in prison, and you brought her in for walking her dog.
The door to the captain's office burst open. Captain Henderson, a tall, bald man with silver spectacles, marched out, looking annoyed at the disturbance. What is going on out here? I can hear you yelling from He stopped. He saw Evelyn Moore standing by the booking desk, rubbing her wrists.
He knew her. They had served on a criminal justice reform panel together two years prior. "Judge Moore," Henderson asked, his voice filled with disbelief. "Captain Henderson," Evelyn said. She didn't smile.
"It has been a long time. " "What? Why are you here? " Henderson looked at the officers, then saw the handcuffs on the counter. His eyes widened behind his glasses.
Your officer, Evelyn, pointed a steady finger at Braden. Decided that a black woman walking a golden retriever in Chestnut Hill was a threat to public safety. He detained me without cause. He assaulted me. He arrested me when I asserted my rights.
And he ignored my identification of myself. Henderson turned to Braden. The look on the captain's face was terrifying. It was the look of a man watching his precinct's budget and reputation burn to the ground. Braden, Henderson said, his voice dangerously quiet.
Did you arrest a superior court judge? I I didn't know, sir. She wouldn't show ID. Did you have reasonable suspicion? Henderson barked.
She fit the description. What description? Evelyn cut in. black and female. That is not a description officer. That is a demographic.
The dynamics of power in the room had completely inverted. 10 minutes ago, Evelyn was a prisoner, a number a body to be processed. Now she was the highest authority in the building. Judge, please come to my office. Captain Henderson said gesturing frantically. Let's get you some water.
We can straighten this out. No, Captain, Evelyn said firmly. We will not straighten this out in private. We will handle this right here on the record. She walked over to the counter and picked up her wallet.