"That's what I mean. You people always think knowing a few words makes you a lawyer."
Marcus noted the phrase but did not react to it. He had heard coded contempt delivered more carefully by more educated men.
"I am not resisting," Marcus said. "I am standing where you told me to stand."
Reigns moved behind him. "Hands behind your back." Marcus did not comply immediately. "Am I under arrest?"
"You're about to be."
"For what offense?"
"Obstruction, interference, maybe resisting if you keep arguing."
Marcus turned his head only slightly. "Officer Reigns, whatever you think this situation is, you are making a serious mistake." Reigns laughed. "You going to complain?"
"I'm telling you to think before you do something you cannot undo."
"Nobody's watching," Reigns said. "Nobody's recording. My camera's broken."
Marcus looked toward the patrol car. Reigns had placed himself several yards away from it before making the cash demand. He also moved farther from it whenever his language became especially threatening. Patrol vehicles in Westbridge carried cabin and exterior microphones integrated into the mobile video system. Reigns appeared to know exactly where those microphones performed poorly.
That detail bothered Marcus more than the demand itself. A corrupt impulse was dangerous. A practiced method was worse.
Reigns keyed his shoulder radio. "Control, Unit Twelve. Send a supervisor to Highland and Maple. Uncooperative driver refusing lawful orders."
The dispatcher's reply came quickly. "Unit Twelve, Sergeant Voss en route. Three minutes." Reigns smiled. "Now maybe somebody can explain this in words you'll understand."
Marcus stayed beside the SUV, even though every instinct told him the roadside encounter had moved beyond a single officer. Leaving would be framed as flight. Reaching for his credentials could be misread intentionally or otherwise. His best protection remained composure, documentation, and time.
The second patrol car arrived in less than three minutes. Sergeant Calvin Voss stepped out with the unhurried confidence of a fifteen-year veteran. He was older than Reigns, leaner, with close-cropped gray at the temples and a face that seemed practiced at appearing reasonable.
"What have we got?" Voss asked.
Reigns answered before Marcus could speak. "Driver weaving. Stopped him, he got argumentative, refused instructions, started accusing me of corruption."
Voss nodded almost immediately. He did not ask where the lane violation occurred. He did not request dispatch to confirm whether Reigns had called in a traffic basis before the stop. He did not ask why the body camera was dark. He looked at Marcus's SUV, then at Marcus.
"Sir, you've been told to cooperate."
"Sergeant, your officer demanded five hundred dollars in cash to avoid a search, tow, and citations."
Voss's expression changed by less than a degree. "That's a serious accusation."
"It is."
"Do you have proof?"
"I asked him to repeat the amount. He did."
Reigns made an irritated sound. "He's inventing this because he doesn't like being stopped." Voss looked back at Marcus. "Unlock the SUV."