“Okay.”
Alex slowly reached toward his pocket.
Perez immediately raised his hand.
“Easy. Keep your movements slow.”
Alex froze.
“Okay.”
His voice trembled.
Eleanor stepped forward.
“See?”
Grayson looked at her.
“See what?”
“He's refusing to cooperate.”
Alex stared at her.
“I just stopped moving because the officer told me to.”
A small crowd had gathered.
Someone began recording.
Another person whispered:
“What's happening?”
Alex felt embarrassed.
Then frightened.
He wasn't doing anything wrong.
Yet suddenly he felt like everyone was looking at him as if he were dangerous.
He wanted to call his mother.
But he didn't dare move.
Then a loud engine suddenly roared across the parking lot.
Everyone turned.
A black SUV came to a sudden stop near the police cruisers.
The driver's door opened.