"911. Yes, I need police immediately. I'm at 247 Maple Grove Drive. There's a man here tampering with a Rolls-Royce. I think he's trying to steal it."
Darius felt his jaw tighten. She was calling 911 on him while he stood in his own driveway.
"I personally witnessed him forcing his way into the vehicle," the woman continued. "I think the homeowner might be in danger."
That was a lie. Darius had unlocked the car with his own key, and she had seen him do it normally. The woman ended the call and smiled at him.
"The police are on their way."
Darius reached into his back pocket and pulled out a leather wallet. Inside was a gold badge and an official identification card, both issued three days ago by the city personnel department: Chief of Police Darius Holloway. He slipped the credentials from the wallet and held them behind his back, out of the woman's sight.
She wanted to see what happened when police arrived to investigate a Black man supposedly stealing his own car. Fine. He wanted to see the same thing.
Two patrol cars rounded the corner with their emergency lights flashing. They pulled into the driveway behind the Rolls-Royce. The woman pointed triumphantly toward Darius.
"Now we'll see who that car really belongs to."
Two officers stepped from the patrol car. The first was tall and broad-shouldered with graying hair at his temples. His nameplate read Mercer. The second officer was younger, Hispanic, with careful eyes that took in every detail of the scene. His nameplate read Ruiz.
Lenora rushed toward them before Darius could speak. "Officers, thank God you're here." She pointed at Darius like he was a dangerous animal. "That man has stolen that Rolls-Royce. I saw him breaking into it with my own eyes."
Mercer's expression shifted the moment he saw her. His posture straightened, and his voice became more formal. "Mrs. Vale, what exactly did you witness?"
Darius noticed the change immediately. These two knew each other.
"I was in my garden when I heard noise from next door," Lenora said, her voice shaking with fake emotion. "I looked over and saw him forcing his way into that car. When I confronted him, he claimed it belonged to him. Can you imagine? A Rolls-Royce?"
"Ma'am, that's not what happened," Darius said calmly.
"Don't interrupt her," Mercer snapped without looking at him. He turned back to Lenora. "Mrs. Vale, are you certain about what you saw?"
"Absolutely certain. And I don't think he just stole the car. I think he might have broken into the house, too. I've never seen him before today. He just appeared out of nowhere with expensive property that obviously doesn't belong to him."
Ruiz stepped closer to the Rolls-Royce and examined it carefully. "Is there any damage to the vehicle? Broken glass? Signs of forced entry?"
Lenora waved her hand dismissively. "He probably has tools. Professional car thieves know how to get in without leaving obvious marks."
"Sir, I need you to step away from the vehicle," Mercer ordered Darius. "Keep your hands where I can see them."
Darius didn't move. "Officer, have you confirmed who owns this car?"
"I'm asking the questions here," Mercer replied sharply. "Step away from the vehicle now."
"Have you investigated anything beyond this woman's accusation?"
"Sir, you need to comply with my instructions."
Ruiz looked up from his examination of the car. "The vehicle shows no signs of forced entry. The paint isn't scratched around the door handles. The windows are intact."
"He could have used electronic devices," Lenora insisted. "These people know all kinds of tricks."
These people. Darius felt the familiar burn in his chest. Thirty years in law enforcement, and he still heard those words.