Chief Sterling froze, his hand hovering inches above his pistol grip. Sweat broke out across his forehead as he took in the tactical gear, the military-grade hardware, and the commanding presence of General Monroe stepping out from behind an old oak tree.
"What is the meaning of this?!" Sterling demanded, though a tremor of pure panic was creeping into his voice. "I am the Police Chief of this district! You have no authority to pull weapons on me in my own city!"
"Under executive order 13848, signed under emergency intelligence provisions, I have absolute jurisdiction over any public officer engaged in treasonous acts against state security," General Monroe stated calmly, walking until he stood side by side with his daughter. "And your little operation here just crossed the line into a national threat."
"Treason?!" Sterling laughed nervously, trying to put on a show of indignation. "You're insane! I came here to inspect a disturbance call! You're protecting a homeless lunatic who's been loitering in my park!"
Zariah stepped forward, opening her worn leather notebook to a specific page stamped with a red federal seal.
"On October 12th at 07:42 AM, you received a black duffel bag containing forty thousand dollars in cash behind the maintenance shed, delivered by a known lieutenant of the Vasquez syndicate," Zariah read aloud, her voice crisp and unyielding. "On November 3rd at 08:00 AM, you met with Officer Boon behind this exact fountain to distribute his eight percent cut for ensuring park security was blind to their supply drops. On December 19th..."
"Shut up!" Sterling screamed, his composure completely shattering. "You don't have proof of anything! You're a nobody! A nameless street rat!"