Grant carefully removed a black leather credential holder.
She opened it.
Then stopped breathing for what seemed like several seconds.
Her eyes moved from the identification to Elijah.
Then back again.
"Sir..."
Sullivan frowned.
"What?"
Grant didn't answer.
She handed him the credential.
Sullivan looked down.
At first, confusion.
Then recognition.
Then disbelief.
The identification bore Elijah's photograph, full name, and official title.
ASSOCIATE JUSTICE
SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES.
For the purposes of this fictional story, Elijah Carter occupied one of the Court's nine seats—the real Court is composed of a Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices.
Sullivan looked up.
Then down again.
The crowd had become completely silent.
"You're..."
Elijah waited.
"A Supreme Court Justice?"
"Yes."
Sullivan took one step backward.
His face had lost its color.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Elijah studied him.
It was the same question he had expected.
And it revealed the problem more clearly than anything else Sullivan had said.
"Why should that have mattered?"
Sullivan stared.
"I mean... obviously..."
"Obviously what?"
"You're a federal judge."
"Yes."
"I would've—"
Sullivan stopped.
Elijah finished the sentence for him.
"You would have treated me differently."
"No. That's not what I meant."
"Then what did you mean?"
Sullivan couldn't answer.
Elijah took his credential from him.
He closed the leather case.
Then he looked toward Grant.
"Officer, am I free to leave?"
Grant looked at Sullivan.
Elijah noticed.
"Don't look at him. I'm asking you whether there is a lawful reason I'm still being detained."
Grant swallowed.
"No, sir."
"Thank you."
Sullivan suddenly spoke.
"Justice Carter, I think there's been a misunderstanding."
Elijah opened his car door.
"No."
Sullivan stopped.
Elijah looked back at him.
"A misunderstanding is when two people interpret the same words differently."
His eyes moved toward Rachel and the other witnesses.
"This was recorded."