Maya stepped out of the car and immediately pressed the remote, locking the entire Bentley door system. Mercer moved closer and shouted, "Open the car. Hand over the key."
Maya put the key in her pocket and replied coldly, "You don't have a search warrant. I refuse."
Mercer glared at her calm attitude, his voice turning harsh. "Are you deliberately obstructing an officer? What are you hiding in that car?" Mercer demanded. "You are exceeding your authority," Maya said firmly. His pride rose.
Mercer pulled his duty baton from his belt and struck the first car window hard.
"You just signed your own property damage report," Maya said. "Shut your mouth!" Mercer roared.
He moved quickly, using the baton to smash every remaining window and the rear windshield, leaving the car frame exposed and covered in broken glass before leaning inside to search. Deputy Noah Bennett stood several yards behind him beside the second patrol vehicle. He had arrived only minutes earlier and had already checked the information Mercer had requested. Mercer, the registration is clean, Noah said.
The Bentley is registered to her. Insurance matches, too. Mercer continued searching the front seat. I heard you.
Then what are you looking for? Mercer pulled open the glove compartment and removed the registration Maya had already provided. He looked at it again, even though the information had been confirmed electronically. I'm investigating suspicious behavior.
Noah glanced at Maya. She stood near the shoulder with her hands visible and made no attempt to approach the Bentley. She refused a search. Noah said, "That isn't the same thing."
Mercer turned toward him. "You want to run this stop?" "No." "Then let me do my job."
Noah did not answer. He had worked with Mercer long enough to recognize the warning. Senior deputies in Carver County did not appreciate being corrected in front of civilians, especially by younger officers. Mercer turned back to the car.
Inside the center console, he found a charging cable, sunglasses, receipts, and a small bottle of hand sanitizer. He checked beneath the front seats and opened the rear storage compartments. Nothing he found supported his suspicion. Maya watched him carefully.
"Your registration was verified before you broke the first window," she said. Mercer straightened. "I told you to keep quiet." You can tell me not to interfere.
You cannot order me not to speak. His face tightened. There was no fear in her voice, and that seemed to frustrate him more than open anger would have. He had expected her to argue emotionally after he damaged the Bentley.
Instead, she continued speaking as if every decision he made could later be reviewed. Mercer stepped closer to her. "You seem very confident for somebody standing on the side of the road during a police investigation."
"I'm confident about what I did and did not consent to."
"You think knowing a few legal phrases makes you an expert?"
"I think you should know them, too." Noah looked away for a moment. He knew the exchange was getting worse, but Mercer was responsible for the stop and clearly had no intention of ending it.