Elijah slowly turned around.

"What do you mean by 'people like me'?"

Sullivan's jaw tightened.

"You know exactly what I mean."

"No."

Elijah's voice remained quiet.

"I would like you to explain it."

Sullivan didn't.

Rachel's phone captured every word.

So did the teenager's.

A second police cruiser turned onto the street.

Officer Melissa Grant stepped out.

She was younger than Sullivan and immediately noticed the crowd.

"What's going on?"

"Traffic stop," Sullivan said.

Grant looked at Elijah.

Then at Sullivan's hand still near the man's jacket.

"What's the issue?"

"Noncompliance."

Elijah spoke.

"I asked why I was being detained."

Sullivan turned sharply.

"I wasn't talking to you."

Grant looked uncomfortable.

She approached Elijah.

"Sir, what's your name?"

"Elijah Carter."

She looked at Sullivan.

"Did you run him?"

"Yes."

"Anything?"

"Clean."

Grant glanced toward the sedan.

"Then why are we still here?"

Sullivan lowered his voice.

But not enough.

"Because something about him isn't right."

Elijah heard it.

So did Rachel's phone.

And suddenly Elijah understood that this traffic stop was no longer about a lane marker.

CHAPTER 4 — THE NAME HE DIDN'T RECOGNIZE

Officer Grant asked Sullivan to step aside.

Elijah couldn't hear their entire conversation.

He caught fragments.

"Nothing outstanding."

"Let him go."

"Attitude."

"That's not enough."

Sullivan returned.

"Open your trunk."

Elijah looked at him.

"No."

Sullivan's face reddened.

"Excuse me?"

"I don't consent to a search."

"There you go again."

"Officer, you asked. I've answered."

Sullivan moved toward the trunk anyway.

Elijah remained beside the driver's door.

Grant intervened.

"Dan."

"What?"