Mercer stood.
“You think that badge changes everything?”
“It changes what you now know.”
“I know nothing.”
“You know exactly who I am.”
Mercer held the credentials.
“And we’re not finished.”
Danner stared.
“What?”
Mercer turned toward him.
“Keep searching.”
“Sarge.”
“Everything.”
Marcus’s voice hardened.
“No.”
Mercer moved closer.
“You don’t get a vote.”
“The original basis for this stop has collapsed. You found registration establishing a federal vehicle, credentials establishing my identity, and no contraband. Continuing now is indefensible.”
Mercer’s face flushed.
“I decide when I’m done.”
Danner said:
“Sergeant, maybe we should call Lieutenant Hollis.”
Mercer looked at him.
Then at the small red light on Danner’s body camera.
His face changed again.
He stepped close to Danner.
Lowered his voice.
“Turn that off.”
Danner blinked.
“What?”
“Camera.”
“Sarge—”
“I said turn it off.”
Marcus heard every word.
He spoke loudly.
“Sergeant Mercer has just ordered Officer Danner to disable his body-worn camera after authentic FBI credentials were discovered.”
Mercer spun around.
“Shut your mouth.”
Marcus continued.
“The vehicle description has been established as nonmatching. I have not consented to the search. Federal property has been damaged, and the sergeant is now directing an officer to stop recording.”
Mercer grabbed the connecting chain between Marcus’s cuffs.
Pulled upward.