He emerged from the SUV with the handgun pointed away from the vehicle and raised his own service weapon toward Dominic.
"On the ground! Both of you! Now!"
Nyla's hands rose higher. Dominic turned just enough to see the gun without making any move toward it.
"That firearm is legally possessed," Dominic said. "Do not handle it further. Put it down in a safe location and verify my credentials."
"You're under arrest for carrying a concealed weapon."
"You haven't verified whose weapon it is."
"I know exactly what it is!"
Maddox's service pistol wavered. His other hand held the recovered handgun by the grip, a practice that would later alarm every firearms instructor asked to review the video. He was attempting to control two people and two weapons while ignoring clear instructions that could have reduced the danger.
"My identification wallet is on the hood," Dominic said. "Open it. The badge is beside the identification card. You can confirm it by calling the FBI field office through a publicly listed number."
Maddox did not look at the wallet. "You think a fake badge gets you out of this?"
"I am an FBI assistant special agent in charge. My name is Dominic Brooks. She is a Department of Justice attorney. We are asking you to verify the information."
Nyla watched the officer's trigger finger. It rested too close to the trigger for comfort. She spoke slowly, choosing each word.
"Officer Maddox, whatever you believe right now, nobody needs to be hurt. We're standing still. We are unarmed. The weapon you found was secured in the vehicle. Please listen."
He keyed his shoulder radio. "Dispatch, Four Alpha. Officer needs assistance. Two suspects, recovered firearm, noncompliant. Send backup immediately."
Rosa Chen's voice came through after a crackle. "Four Alpha, confirm whether anyone is injured."
"No injuries. Send everybody."
A mile away, in an unmarked sedan parked behind a feed store, an FBI surveillance supervisor heard the emergency language relayed by Nyla's phone. Her latest message had been short: OFFICER HAS DRAWN WEAPON. NOT SAFE TO INTERVENE WITHOUT COORDINATION.
The supervisor checked the location and called the operation leader. The task force was no longer simply protecting a witness. Its own senior personnel were at gunpoint.