“Daniel.”
“Twenty.”
“If Sam is still detained without lawful basis after twenty minutes, I go public.”
“I know.”
“I mean live.”
“I know who I’m talking to.”
Patricia looked toward the road where the cruiser had disappeared.
“Twenty minutes.”
She ended the call.
Meanwhile, inside the cruiser, Sam watched Officer Sarah Davis arrive before Derek pulled away.
She was twenty-eight and had been on patrol slightly more than two years.
Davis had seen Derek’s cruiser and stopped to assist.
“What do we have?” she asked.
“Stolen vehicle.”
“The Lexus?”
“Yes.”
Sarah looked at her in-car terminal.
“I ran it coming in. It’s clean.”
Derek shrugged.
“Fake paperwork.”
“The registered owner is Samuel Owens.”
“That’s what he says his name is.”
Sarah looked toward the rear seat.
Sam met her eyes.
Something tightened in her expression.
“Did you check his ID?”
“He wouldn’t cooperate.”
From inside the car, Sam spoke through the open front door.
“I repeatedly asked permission to retrieve my wallet.”
Derek turned.
“Stay quiet.”
Sarah looked back at him.
“Let me check.”
Derek’s irritation showed.
“Davis.”
“It takes thirty seconds.”
Sarah opened the rear door.
“Sir, where’s your wallet?”