Mercer folded the paper.
"Search the bag."
Reed hesitated.
Ava watched him.
"I'll cooperate with lawful procedures," she said.
Reed nodded.
"Thank you."
Mercer reached toward the handbag.
"Stop."
Ava's voice was suddenly firmer.
Mercer froze.
"You said you would cooperate."
"I said lawful procedures."
Reed looked at the bag.
"What's inside?"
"My wallet, phone, keys, documents, and the credential wallet."
Mercer looked at Reed.
"What credential wallet?"
Ava answered.
"My agency credentials."
Mercer extended his hand.
"Then let's see them."
Ava shook her head.
"You can inspect them if there's a lawful basis and proper procedure."
Mercer laughed.
"You're unbelievable."
Ava said nothing.
Reed noticed that her hands were steady.
Then his radio crackled.
A dispatcher called his unit.
Reed answered.
The message was brief.
Another officer had checked the store's security footage.
There was no clear evidence of theft.
Reed looked at Mercer.
"We should review the footage."
Mercer didn't move.
"We don't need to."
Reed stared at him.
"Yes, we do."
The young man recording was still nearby.
Ava looked toward him.
Then back at the officers.
She had a feeling the next few minutes would decide whether this remained an embarrassing misunderstanding—or became something much more serious.
The security office at Oakridge Market was small.
There were two monitors, a desk, several radios, and a wall covered with old notices.
Patricia Hall sat in front of the screen.
Reed stood beside her.
Mercer remained near the door.
Ava was not inside.
She waited in the parking lot under the supervision of another employee.
The footage began.
Patricia rewound it.
Ava appeared on the screen.
She walked through the cosmetics aisle.
She stopped.
She picked up a bottle of hand lotion.
She read the label.
She put it back.
Then she continued walking.
Patricia paused the footage.
"That's when I saw her."
Reed looked at the screen.
"Did she take anything?"
"No."
"Did she put anything in her bag?"
"No."
"Then why did you report her?"
Patricia looked uncomfortable.
"I thought she was acting strangely."
Reed stared at her.
"How?"
"She looked around."
"So did everyone else."
Patricia sighed.
"I know."
Reed continued watching.
Ava walked toward the dairy section.
Nothing happened.
She paid.
She left.
There was no concealment.
No merchandise disappeared.
No exchange with another person.
No suspicious behavior beyond an ordinary customer looking around a store.
Reed turned toward Mercer.
"That's it."
Mercer folded his arms.
"Keep watching."
They did.
The same sequence repeated.
Nothing.
Reed finally turned off the monitor.
"We need to release her."
Mercer shook his head.
"Not yet."
"Why?"
"I want to verify the credentials."
Reed stared at him.
"Her credentials have nothing to do with the theft allegation."
"They might explain why she's being evasive."
"She's not being evasive."
Mercer didn't answer.
Reed walked outside.
Ava was standing near her SUV.
The other employee stepped away.
Reed approached.
"The footage doesn't show any theft."
Ava nodded.
"Then may I leave?"
Reed looked at Mercer.
Mercer was walking toward them.
"Not yet."
Ava's expression tightened.
"Why?"
"We're still verifying your identity."
"You already have my name."
Mercer said:
"We need to see the badge."
Ava looked at Reed.
Reed said nothing.
Ava slowly opened her handbag.
She removed a black leather wallet.
She held it closed.
Mercer reached for it.
"Open it."
Ava handed it to Reed instead.
"Please handle it carefully."
Reed opened the wallet.
His face changed immediately.
Inside was a government identification card.
Next to it was a metal badge bearing the seal of the state oversight office.
There were additional credentials behind it.
Reed looked at the identification.
Then at Ava.
Then back at the badge.
Mercer stepped closer.
"What is it?"
Reed handed it over.
Mercer examined it.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Ava watched him.
The young man with the phone was still recording from a distance.
Mercer looked at the badge again.
"This could be fake."
Ava nodded.
"It could."
Reed looked surprised.
She continued.
"That's why you should verify it through official channels."
Reed checked the number.
Then he called dispatch.
The dispatcher took the information.
There was a pause.
Then another pause.
Reed's expression became serious.
He covered the microphone.
"Daniel."
Mercer looked at him.
"What?"
"Her credentials are valid."
Mercer stared at him.
"You're sure?"
"Dispatch confirmed the agency."
Ava remained silent.
Mercer handed the wallet back.
For a moment, nobody moved.
Then Ava said:
"Am I free to go?"
Reed looked at Mercer.
Mercer finally answered.
"Yes."
Ava took her wallet.
"Thank you."
She placed it carefully inside her handbag.
She turned toward her SUV.
Then stopped.
She looked back at Mercer.
"I don't want anyone disciplined because of a misunderstanding."
Mercer looked surprised.
Ava continued.
"But I do want the report to accurately reflect what happened."
Mercer said nothing.
"Please document that I asked whether I was detained, that I asked what evidence supported the suspicion, and that the store footage did not show theft."
Reed nodded.
"That's reasonable."
Mercer looked irritated.
Ava closed her SUV door.
Before she left, Reed approached her.
"Ms. Bennett."
She turned.
"Yes?"
"I apologize for how this was handled."
Ava studied him.
"Thank you."
Then Reed asked: