Torres began with the store. She used her department radio to request the original dispatch details and asked Sloan to call Arthur Bell on a line she could hear. The security director moved his telephone toward the center of the desk, but his hand lingered over the keypad as though he hoped to choose the question before it was asked. Torres waited without helping him. Eventually he dialed.
Arthur answered after two rings. His voice was clear and mildly exasperated. "Harrison Fine Jewelry. Arthur speaking."
"Mr. Bell, this is Lieutenant Rebecca Torres of Grand Harbor Police," she said. "I'm reviewing the interaction involving your customer, Vanessa Cole. I need to know whether you reported fraud."
"No, Lieutenant. We didn't. Jennifer called mall security because she thought the purchase seemed unusual, but the charge was approved. I called security myself to correct the concern before the customer was approached."
"Why did Jennifer believe it was unusual?"
A pause followed. "I think she made an assumption based on the customer's appearance. We have training about high-value purchases, but the transaction met our requirements. I should have intervened sooner."
"Did you tell security there was no reason to suspect fraud?"
"I did. At approximately 2:40. Our system records outgoing calls, and I wrote the transaction number in the call note."
Torres looked at Sloan. He sat with his lips pressed together, looking at nothing in particular. "Thank you, Mr. Bell. Please preserve those records. Someone will be in contact with a formal request."
She ended the call. For a moment no one spoke. It was the first time someone other than Vanessa had said plainly that the original concern was about appearance rather than missing property or a rejected card. Harlan had been sent to investigate a feeling, and that feeling had hardened into an accusation by the time he reached the corridor.
"Officer Harlan," Torres said, "what crime did you have reason to believe had occurred when you put the cuffs on?"
"The call involved a high-value transaction. The subject was argumentative."
"Neither is a crime. What was the specific evidence of fraud?"
"I needed time to establish that."
"And what did you do to establish it?"
"I asked questions."
"Did you call the store?"
"No."
"Did you call the issuer?"
"No."
"Did you read the receipt?"
"I looked at it."
Torres turned the white strip toward him. "Then tell me the total before tax."
Harlan glanced down and said nothing. She did not press him for an answer. The silence had already established that he had been too certain of his conclusion to examine the document held in front of him.
Vanessa watched from beside the desk. Her wrists still hurt. She wanted to leave, change into the navy blazer she had hung backstage, and make sure Sarah never learned that the event had nearly been derailed. But she also understood that every moment of inconvenience now could spare someone else a similar encounter later. She stayed.
Sloan cleared his throat. "Lieutenant, I think we may be making a larger issue out of an unfortunate misunderstanding. Everyone agrees the purchase was valid. Surely we can return Ms. Cole's property and let the event proceed."
"You issued her a trespass notice after learning the purchase was valid," Torres said. "Why?"