"He has done nothing," she said, her voice shaking. "He was washing his car. I was inside the house. Please tell me what happened." Mason did not look at her.
"Your husband needs to learn that the rules apply to everybody." Regina stared at him. "Then tell him the rule. Tell him what he broke." Bellamy shifted his stance, visibly annoyed that she was asking the same question her husband had asked.
Francis wanted to tell Regina to go inside. He wanted to ask her to call an attorney, or at least notify someone from the field office. But calling instructions across the driveway might make her more frightened, and he did not want her distracted while filming. Instead, he spoke calmly to Mason.
"Officer, I am not threatening you. I am not reaching for anything. You can ask whatever questions you need to ask." Mason's eyes narrowed, and Francis realized the offer had only increased the officer's frustration.
"You remember the grocery store?" Mason said suddenly. His voice was low enough that Francis had to concentrate, but high enough for Regina's phone to capture it. Francis felt the atmosphere shift. "Three weeks ago," Mason continued.
"You thought you could talk to me in front of everyone. Thought you could embarrass me and just walk away." Francis stared at him. Whatever doubt remained about the reason for the visit disappeared.
"This is about the parking space?" Francis asked. Mason smiled without warmth. "This is about respect."
Francis felt a slow chill despite the morning heat. A dispute over an obstructed access aisle had become a police confrontation at his home. Three additional officers were now standing on his lawn because one man had remembered being contradicted in public. Mason raised the taser another fraction of an inch.
"You want respect?" Francis said quietly. "Then treat me respectfully. I'm asking you to think about what you're doing."
Mason's jaw flexed. "Don't lecture me." Francis maintained eye contact. "I'm not lecturing you.