Briggs looked at Danielle.

Then at Mulligan.

"Take the cuffs off."

CHAPTER 4 — THE PHONE CALL

The cuffs came off.

Danielle rubbed her wrists.

Red marks circled both of them.

Briggs looked embarrassed.

"Ms. Lawson—"

"No."

He stopped.

"Don't apologize yet."

Mulligan crossed his arms.

"Look, there was confusion."

Danielle turned toward him.

"No."

"What?"

"There was no confusion."

Mulligan frowned.

"I didn't have all the information."

"I gave you the information."

"You had no ID."

"I told you where it was."

"You were behaving suspiciously."

"I was retrieving a folder from my own vehicle."

Mulligan shook his head.

"We're not doing this."

Danielle almost smiled.

"Actually, we are."

Briggs stepped between them.

"Let's cool this down."

Danielle looked at him.

"I want a phone."

"Of course."

"And I want preservation notices placed immediately on Officer Mulligan's body-camera footage, Officer Evans's footage, vehicle dash recordings, dispatch audio, parking-lot surveillance, booking-room video, and every written report associated with this detention."

Mulligan stared at her.

The room became very quiet.

Briggs understood instantly.

"I'll make sure it's preserved."

"Thank you."

Danielle walked to the phone.

She dialed a number from memory.

Mark Edwards answered on the second ring.

"Edwards."

"Mark."

Pause.

"Danielle?"

"I'm at Central Precinct."

"Why?"

"I've been arrested."

Another pause.

Longer.

"Are you hurt?"

"No."

"Charge?"

"Attempted theft of my own SUV."

Silence.

Then Mark said:

"Say that again."

Danielle almost laughed.

"Officer Mulligan decided the Lexus wasn't mine."

"Did he run the plate?"

"Eventually. After bringing me downtown."

Mark's voice changed.

He had been Danielle's legal adviser for six years.

He was normally difficult to provoke.

Now every word came out colder.