Lucas Reed was thirty-five and had worked with Mercer for only six months.
He looked from Mercer to Ava, then to the shopping cart.
"What happened?"
Mercer answered quickly.
"Possible shoplifting."
Reed looked at Ava.
"What was taken?"
Mercer paused.
"We're checking."
"What's the reported item?"
"An employee concern."
Reed frowned.
"That's it?"
Mercer gave him a sharp look.
"Lucas."
Reed said nothing.
He had already noticed something Mercer had overlooked.
There was no alarm.
No store employee accusing Ava.
No missing item identified.
No evidence that she had concealed merchandise.
And most importantly, Ava had already paid for her groceries.
Reed looked toward the store entrance.
"Maybe we should talk to the employee who made the report."
Mercer shook his head.
"Not necessary."
Ava quietly watched them.
She did not know what was happening yet.
But she understood one thing.
This was no longer an ordinary conversation.
And somewhere inside her handbag was a small leather wallet that was about to change everything.
Mercer stood beside the cruiser with his arms crossed.
Ava remained next to her shopping cart.
The distance between them was only a few feet, but the atmosphere had become noticeably heavier.
People were watching.
Nobody wanted to be involved, but nobody seemed willing to leave.
Lucas Reed glanced toward the store.
"I think we should verify the complaint."
Mercer looked at him.
"We don't need to turn this into a production."
"I'm not trying to."
"Then let me handle it."
Reed hesitated.
He had learned during his first months with Mercer that arguments were rarely productive.
But something about this situation bothered him.
There was a difference between suspicion and evidence.
The two were not interchangeable.
Mercer turned back to Ava.
"Ma'am, I'm going to ask one more time. Open the bag."
Ava looked directly at him.
"Am I under arrest?"
"No."
"Am I being detained?"
Mercer paused.
"At the moment, we're investigating."
"Then am I free to leave?"
Mercer didn't answer.
Ava waited.
That silence said more than his words had.
She placed both hands on the handle of her shopping cart.
"I would like a clear answer."
Mercer sighed.
"You're making this unnecessarily difficult."
"No," Ava replied. "I'm trying to understand whether I'm free to go."
The young man with the phone continued recording.
Another customer quietly stood beside him.
Mercer noticed the growing audience.
His voice became firmer.
"Put the bag on the hood."
Ava did not move.
"Please explain what you believe I took."
Mercer looked toward the store.
"I don't have to explain every detail of an investigation."
"You don't have to explain everything," Ava said. "But if you're asking to search my property, I think it's reasonable to ask why."
Reed looked at Ava.
There was something unusual about her composure.
Most people who were stopped unexpectedly by police became nervous.
Some talked too much.
Others became angry.
Ava did neither.
She simply asked precise questions.
Reed finally spoke.
"Officer Mercer, maybe we should confirm the report before we continue."
Mercer looked at him.
"You think I don't know what I'm doing?"
"I didn't say that."
"Then let me handle it."
Reed fell silent.
At that moment, the store manager came outside.
Her name was Patricia Hall.
She looked confused.
"Officers?"
Mercer turned.
"You reported a possible theft?"
Patricia looked at Ava.
Then at the cart.
Then back at Mercer.
"I reported a customer who might have taken something."
"Is this her?"
Patricia hesitated.
"I'm not sure."
Mercer frowned.
"You said the customer was wearing green."
"Yes."
"And carrying a black bag."
"Yes."
Mercer pointed toward Ava.
"That's her."
Patricia looked uncomfortable.
"I didn't say I was certain."
Mercer's expression changed.
"What exactly did you see?"
Patricia took a breath.
"I saw her near the cosmetics aisle."
Ava remembered that.
She had walked through cosmetics because it was between two sections.
"Did you see me take anything?" Ava asked.
Patricia shook her head.
"No."
"Did you see me hide anything?"
"No."
"Did you see me leave without paying?"
"No."
Mercer looked irritated.
"Then why did you report her?"
Patricia lowered her voice.
"Because she was standing near a display, and when I walked closer, she moved away."
Ava almost laughed.
"That's the reason?"
Patricia looked embarrassed.
"I wasn't sure."
Lucas Reed closed his eyes briefly.
He knew exactly where this was going.
Mercer, however, continued.
"That's enough for us to investigate."
Ava looked at him.
"Investigate what?"
Mercer didn't answer.
Patricia looked increasingly uncomfortable.
"I don't want to accuse her of anything."
"Then why call us?" Ava asked.
Patricia swallowed.
"I thought it was better to be safe."
Ava nodded slowly.
"Being careful is understandable."
Then she looked at Mercer.
"But suspicion isn't proof."
Mercer stepped closer.
"You're becoming argumentative."
"No. I'm asking questions."
"You're refusing a lawful instruction."
"What lawful instruction?"
"The search."
"Under what authority?"
Mercer stopped.
Reed looked at him.
The silence was unmistakable.
Ava waited.
Mercer finally said:
"You're carrying a bag connected to a possible theft."
"No," Ava replied. "I'm carrying my personal bag."
Mercer reached toward it.
Ava immediately moved the bag behind her.
"Please don't touch my property."
Mercer stopped.
"You're going to regret this."