"Out."

Danielle carefully stepped onto the pavement.

Her hands remained cuffed behind her.

"Still claiming you're some big prosecutor?"

"I'm not claiming anything."

"Then where's your ID?"

"In the purse you won't let me retrieve."

"Convenient."

Danielle took a slow breath.

"Call the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office."

Mulligan laughed.

"And ask for who?"

"Danielle Lawson."

"And what happens?"

"My staff tells you you're currently holding Danielle Lawson."

Mulligan's smile disappeared.

"You know what I think?"

"No."

"I think you're used to talking your way out of things."

Danielle stared at him.

"You know absolutely nothing about me."

"I know your type."

There was that phrase again.

Her type.

People like her.

Somebody like her.

Danielle looked directly at Evans.

"You heard that."

Evans shifted uncomfortably.

Mulligan followed her gaze.

"Don't bring him into this."

"He's already in it."

Mulligan grabbed Danielle's arm.

"Back in the car."

His grip was harder than necessary.

Danielle didn't resist.

She knew exactly how easily physical resistance could become another accusation.

So she sat.

Mulligan slammed the door.

Twenty minutes later, Danielle Lawson was being transported downtown for allegedly attempting to steal the vehicle registered in her own name.

And nobody had checked the plate.

CHAPTER 3 — CENTRAL PRECINCT

Central Precinct smelled like stale coffee, printer toner, and disinfectant.

Danielle had visited the building dozens of times.

Never like this.

She had walked those halls beside detectives while preparing homicide cases.

She had interviewed witnesses in rooms down the corridor.

She knew several supervisors by name.

Now she sat handcuffed to a metal bench while officers walked past without recognizing her.

The irony might have been funny under different circumstances.

Mulligan filled out paperwork.

Danielle watched.

"What are you charging me with?"

"Attempted vehicle theft."

"Based on what evidence?"

Mulligan continued writing.

"Suspicious circumstances."

"What circumstances?"

"No identification."

"My identification was inside my car."

"Allegedly."

"You could have retrieved it."

Mulligan looked up.

"Do you ever stop?"

"When people start following procedure."

His chair scraped backward.

He approached.