"I didn't."
"You just did."
Then he grabbed her.
Hard.
He drove her toward the glass display wall.
Her shoulder struck first.
Then her cheek touched the cold glass.
A gasp swept through the store.
Reigns twisted one of her arms behind her back.
"This is excessive force," Denise said clearly. "I am not resisting."
"Hands behind your back."
"You already have my hands."
"Keep talking and I'll add obstruction."
The handcuffs clicked.
Too tight.
Denise felt the metal bite into her wrists.
She kept her breathing steady.
She could hear people recording.
Reigns pulled her upright.
"Should've cooperated."
He marched her through the mall.
People stepped aside.
Some stared.
Some whispered.
Others held up phones.
Denise knew exactly what this looked like.
She had seen it countless times in body-camera footage.
A frightened civilian.
An aggressive officer.
A report waiting to be written.
Calm objections became "hostility."
Confusion became "noncompliance."
Fear became "resistance."
She knew the machinery.
Now she was inside it.
Outside, Reigns pushed her toward his cruiser.
Denise stopped.
"Before this goes any further, I suggest you identify me."
He laughed.
"Save your speech for booking."
"My name is Denise Carter."
"So?"
She looked directly at him.
"Captain Denise Carter. Fifteenth Precinct."
For the first time, Reigns hesitated.
"My badge is in my left front pocket."
The crowd went strangely quiet.
Reigns stared at her.
Then laughed.
"Sure you are."
"Check."
He reached into her pocket.
His fingers found the badge case.