"I was inside the courthouse at six."
"We'll verify that."
"Please do."
Mercer opened the folder.
"You have prior arrests?"
"No."
"Traffic violations?"
"One speeding ticket eight years ago."
He looked at her.
"Anything else?"
"No."
"Ever been investigated for theft?"
"No."
"Fraud?"
"No."
"Assault?"
"No."
"Then this should be easy."
Maya nodded.
"It should."
Mercer leaned forward.
"Unless you're lying."
Maya studied him.
"Why do you think I'm lying?"
"Because you don't act like someone who just got arrested."
"How should I act?"
"Scared."
Maya almost smiled.
"I am."
Mercer looked surprised.
"You don't seem scared."
"I'm a lawyer."
"So?"
"So I know that fear doesn't prove guilt."
The door opened.
Another officer entered.
He was younger.
His expression was uncomfortable.
"Sergeant?"
Mercer looked up.
"What?"
"The vehicle registration came back."
"And?"
"It's registered to Brooks."
Mercer didn't respond.
The younger officer continued.
"Insurance is valid too."
Mercer closed the folder.
"Could still be fraud."
The younger officer hesitated.
"There's more."
"What?"
"The courthouse security footage confirms she entered the building at 5:41 and didn't leave until 9:22."
Maya looked at Mercer.
His face remained expressionless.
The younger officer added quietly:
"She couldn't have stolen the vehicle at six."
Silence.
Maya expected an apology.
None came.
Instead, Mercer stood.
"We'll continue this later."
Maya's voice stopped him.
"No."
He turned.
"You've made a mistake."
He stared.
"Let me finish."
Maya continued.
"You arrested me based on an accusation that could have been disproved in less than five minutes."
Mercer said nothing.
"You saw my registration."
Nothing.
"You saw my identification."
Nothing.
"You had access to the vehicle identification number."
Still nothing.
"And you continued the arrest."
Mercer stepped closer.
"You want to be released?"
"Yes."
"Then stop lecturing me."
Maya smiled faintly.
"I'm not lecturing you."
She leaned forward.
"I'm documenting what happened."
The room became silent.
Mercer looked at the camera mounted in the corner.
Then back at Maya.
For the first time that night, he looked uncertain.
Maya noticed.
And she remembered the most important lesson she had learned in law school.
Never interrupt someone while they are making your case for you.
Maya was released shortly after midnight.
No charges were filed.
No apology was offered.
Her car was returned.
She walked out of the station carrying her purse.
Her wrists still hurt.
A woman sat on a bench near the entrance.
She looked frightened.
A young Black man stood beside her.
Maya recognized the look immediately.
The woman had been crying.
The man was angry.
Maya stopped.
"Are you all right?"
The young man shook his head.
"They took my brother."
Maya looked toward the holding area.
"Why?"
"They said he resisted."
"Did he?"
"No."
The woman wiped her eyes.
"They wouldn't listen."
Maya looked at the young man.