"Maybe we should slow down."
Dalton stared at him.
"Are you questioning me?"
"No."
"Then shut up."
The twins exchanged another glance.
Danielle whispered.
"Let it happen."
Dominique nodded.
They had learned something important during their careers:
Sometimes the most effective way to expose misconduct was not to interrupt it.
It was to let the person reveal himself.
Dalton pushed Dominique toward the door.
As she moved, something slipped from the back pocket of her jacket.
A small black leather credential case hit the floor.
It opened.
A gold shield appeared beneath the bar's overhead lights.
Kyle stopped.
Mark stopped.
Dalton stopped.
The room went silent.
Kyle stared at the badge.
His face changed.
"Sarge..."
Dalton looked down.
The shield was unmistakable.
Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Dalton's confidence disappeared for half a second.
Then something worse replaced it.
Pride.
He refused to admit what he was seeing.
Dominique calmly looked down at the credential case.
"That's mine."
Dalton stared at her.
"Who are you?"
Dominique answered.
"Special Agent Dominique Carter."
Danielle spoke from beside her.
"Special Agent Danielle Carter."
Nobody moved.
Aaron's phone was still recording.
Luis stared at the officers.
Mark took a step backward.
Kyle whispered:
"Oh, no."
Dalton looked from one sister to the other.
Then he made the decision that would destroy his career.
Instead of removing the handcuffs, he kicked the credential case across the floor.
It struck the baseboard.
The sound was small.
But everyone heard it.
Danielle's expression remained calm.
"You have now been informed of our identities."
Dalton's breathing became heavy.
"And?"
"And you are still detaining us."
Dalton tried to recover his authority.
"You're coming with me."
Dominique smiled.
"All right."
Dalton blinked.
"What?"
"Take us to the station."
Danielle looked directly at him.
"Please."
The rain finally began falling as the officers escorted the twins outside.
It came down lightly at first, creating a silver mist around the streetlights.
Then it became heavier.
Dalton opened the rear door of the patrol vehicle.
"Get in."
Danielle climbed inside.
Dominique followed.
The sisters sat side by side.
The doors closed.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Dominique looked toward her sister.
"Time?"
"Seven forty-six."
"You saw what happened?"
"Everything."
"Good."
Dominique smiled faintly.
"You think Aaron got it?"
"I hope so."
The patrol car pulled away.
In the front seat, Mark was driving.
Dalton sat beside him.
Kyle followed in another vehicle.
The silence lasted nearly a minute.
Then Mark spoke.
"Sergeant."
Dalton stared through the windshield.
"What?"
"We should probably call someone."
"Who?"
"Command."
Dalton turned.
"For what?"
Mark hesitated.
"The FBI."
Dalton laughed bitterly.
"They're not going anywhere."
"They're federal agents."
"I know what they are."
"Then why are we taking them to the station?"
Dalton did not answer.
The sisters heard every word.
Dominique leaned closer to Danielle.
"He knows."
"Yes."
"He knows he's in trouble."
"Yes."
The patrol car reached the Twelfth Precinct.
Inside, Sergeant Patricia Owens was working the overnight desk.
Owens had served for more than two decades.
She had seen officers make mistakes.
She had seen officers lie.
She had also seen good officers destroyed by the actions of people who believed the badge was a shield against consequences.
When Dalton entered with the twins, Owens immediately noticed something was wrong.
"Rick?"
"Booking."
"Charges?"
"Disorderly conduct. Resisting arrest. Public disturbance."
Owens looked at the women.
They did not look intoxicated.
They did not look disorderly.
They looked remarkably calm.
"Identification?"
Dalton waved a hand.
"Handle it."
Owens frowned.
"Identification."
Dalton became irritated.
"They refused to cooperate."
Danielle spoke.
"Sergeant Owens."
Owens looked at her.
"My name is Special Agent Danielle Carter."
Dalton stepped forward.
"Don't start."
Owens held up a hand.
"Let her speak."
Danielle continued.
"This is Special Agent Dominique Carter. We are federal agents."
Owens stared at them.
Then at Dalton.
"Federal agents?"
"She claims."
Dominique laughed quietly.
"Claims?"
Owens looked at Dalton.
"Where are their credentials?"
Dalton said nothing.
Owens repeated.
"Rick."
Mark entered carrying Danielle's purse.
He placed it on the desk.
Owens opened it.
Inside was a wallet.
She removed the identification.
Her expression changed.
She checked the information against the computer.
A moment later, the screen confirmed the status.
Active federal agent.
Owens slowly looked up.
"Rick."
He avoided her eyes.
"You didn't verify this?"
"They didn't show me anything."
Kyle entered behind him.
His face was pale.