Every moment.

Emily said:

“Keep the camera running.”

Walter nodded.

“I will.”

But he didn't know that the recording was about to become the most important piece of evidence in the entire case.

Officer Brooks returned.

“Who were you talking to?”

Walter put the phone away.

“My daughter.”

“Is she a lawyer?”

“Yes.”

The officer's expression changed slightly.

Walter noticed.

“Why?”

“No reason.”

Walter almost smiled.

For the first time since the stop began, he felt that the balance had shifted.

The officer was no longer completely confident.

He had made a mistake.

He had revealed too much.

And the dashcam had captured it.

Officer Brooks held out his hand.

“Give me the keys.”

Walter shook his head.

“No.”

“You're obstructing an investigation.”

“What investigation?”

The officer didn't answer.

Walter waited.

Finally, Officer Brooks said:

“We have reason to believe your vehicle may contain evidence.”

“Evidence of what?”

“That's not something I need to discuss with you.”

Walter looked directly into the officer's eyes.

“Then you don't have enough reason to search it.”

The second officer arrived.

He was younger and appeared uncertain.

“What happened?”

Officer Brooks whispered something to him.

Walter couldn't hear.

But he saw the younger officer glance toward the dashcam.

Then toward Walter.

Then back at Brooks.

The younger officer looked uncomfortable.

Walter realized that not everyone wearing the same uniform necessarily knew the same things.

He said quietly:

“Officer, if you're doing your job, I respect that.”

Brooks stared at him.

“But if you're asking me to surrender my rights because you think I'm too old or too scared to say no, that's different.”

The younger officer looked away.

For several seconds, nobody spoke.

Then Brooks reached toward Walter.

Walter stepped backward.

The movement was small.

But it changed everything.

The younger officer introduced himself as Officer Michael Reed.

“Mr. Hayes,” he said, “please remain calm.”

Walter looked at him.