The rain had stopped twenty minutes earlier, but the streets of Bellhaven still shone beneath the yellow glow of the streetlights.

Attorney Maya Brooks stepped out of the courthouse carrying a leather folder beneath one arm and her phone in the other hand.

It was nearly nine-thirty on a Thursday night.

Most of the courthouse offices had already gone dark. The security guards had changed shifts. The parking garage was almost empty.

Maya was tired.

She had spent fourteen hours preparing for a hearing that would begin at eight the next morning, and she still had another three hours of work waiting at home.

But she was smiling.

Tomorrow mattered.

If everything went according to plan, the case could expose a pattern of misconduct that had remained hidden for years.

Maya was the kind of lawyer who believed paperwork could change lives.

Not because paper was powerful.

Because facts were.

And facts were difficult to argue with.

She reached the lower level of the parking garage and pressed the button on her key fob.

Her dark blue sedan flashed its lights.

Maya walked toward it.

Then she noticed the police cruiser.

It was parked two spaces away.

The driver's window was down.

A white male officer sat behind the wheel.

He watched her.

Maya continued walking.

She had learned long ago not to assume every police officer was looking for trouble.

But she had also learned not to ignore warning signs.

The cruiser pulled forward.

Maya stopped beside her car.

The officer stepped out.

"Ma'am."

Maya turned.

"Yes?"

"Where are you going?"

She looked at the officer.

Then at the nearly empty garage.

"Home."

"Where do you live?"

Maya frowned.

"Is there a reason you're asking?"

"Just answer the question."

Maya remained calm.

"I live in West Bellhaven."

The officer looked at her car.

"Is this your vehicle?"

"Yes."

"Registration?"

"In the glove compartment."

"License?"

"In my wallet."

"Can I see it?"

Maya reached into her purse.

The officer immediately placed a hand near his holster.

"Slowly."

Maya froze.

She looked at him.

"I'm reaching for my wallet."

"I said slowly."

She withdrew the wallet carefully.

The officer approached.

Maya handed him her driver's license.

He studied it.

Then looked at her.

Then at the license again.

"Attorney?"

"Yes."

"Where?"

"Bellhaven State Legal Office."

His expression changed.

"You work for the state?"

"I do."

He gave the license back.

"Step away from the vehicle."

Maya stared at him.

"Why?"

"Step away."

She did.

"What is happening?"

"We received a report of a stolen vehicle matching this description."

Maya looked at her sedan.

"My vehicle isn't stolen."

"We'll determine that."

"I can show you the registration."

"I'll get it."

The officer opened the driver's door.

Maya watched him search.

He opened the glove compartment.

The registration was right there.

He looked at it.

Then he looked at Maya.

Something about his expression made her stomach tighten.