Davis turned back to Marcus. She was trying to do her job by the book, and despite Marcus’s calm demeanor, she needed to properly document the incident. "Sir, I understand the situation, but I still need to get your information for the report. Can I see your ID, please?"
Brenda let out a triumphant, malicious laugh. "Yes! Get his ID! Find out what halfway house he crawled out of! You'll see I'm right!"
Marcus didn't reach for his wallet. He stood tall, his broad shoulders squared, his intense gaze shifting from the frantic woman to the young police officer. The air around him seemed to change, heavy with an unspoken, devastating authority. He was done playing games.
Marcus leaned slightly forward, his dark eyes locking onto Officer Davis. He didn't raise his voice, but the sheer, crushing weight of his presence made the young officer instinctively stand at attention.
Marcus raised his right hand, extending his index finger, pointing it not in anger, but with absolute, cold precision toward the officer's duty belt.
"Before you touch those cuffs," Marcus said, his voice a low, rumbling baritone that carried across the entire concrete lot, "you might want to ask who I am."
Officer Davis froze. The confidence in his voice wasn't the false bravado of a criminal; it was the unshakeable certainty of a man who owned the ground they were standing on. She looked at his face closely for the first time, past the stubble and the faded denim shirt. Her eyes widened as recognition suddenly struck her like a bolt of lightning. She had seen his face in the Mayor’s office, in the newspaper, and on the plaque in the precinct lobby.
"Mr... Mr. Kellerman?" Officer Davis stammered, all color draining from her face.
Brenda scoffed loudly. "Kellerman? You think this guy owns the station? Don't make me laugh! Look at him!"
"Ma'am, shut up," Officer Davis snapped, her voice suddenly sharp and panicked. She looked back at Marcus, swallowing hard. "I... I am so sorry, sir. I didn't recognize you out of your suit. Mr. Kellerman is the CEO of Kellerman Energy."
Marcus didn't break eye contact with the officer. "That's right. And what else do I own, Officer Davis?"
Davis looked at Brenda, a mixture of pity and horror on her face. "Sir... your holding company owns the master land lease for the Oak Creek subdivision."
The words hit Brenda like a physical blow to the chest. The arrogant smirk vanished from her face instantly, replaced by a look of sheer, unadulterated terror. The clipboard slipped from her fingers, clattering loudly onto the concrete.