"Officer Mercer," Darius said evenly, "do you plan to verify ownership before detaining someone in their own driveway?"
"Your own driveway?" Mercer's face reddened. "You think you can just claim whatever you want?"
"I think you should do your job properly."
"My job? My job is to investigate suspected vehicle theft reported by a respected member of this community." Mercer gestured toward Lenora. "Mrs. Vale has contributed thousands of dollars to police programs in this city."
So that was it. Lenora wasn't just a neighbor. She was a donor.
"That doesn't give her the right to make false accusations," Darius said.
"False accusations?" Lenora's voice rose to a shriek. "I saw what I saw. Search him. He probably has burglary tools on him right now."
Ruiz frowned. "Ma'am, we can't search someone without probable cause."
"The probable cause is that I witnessed him stealing that car."
"You witnessed him unlocking it with a key," Darius corrected.
"That's not what she told us," Mercer said. He reached for his handcuffs. "Sir, I'm placing you in temporary detention while we sort this out."
Lenora smiled triumphantly. "Finally, someone who knows how to handle criminals."
"Officer Mercer," Darius said quietly, "are you arresting me for owning my own property?"
"I'm detaining you for investigation of vehicle theft based on an eyewitness report."
"Without running the registration, without checking identification, without investigating anything at all."
Mercer's jaw tightened. "Keep your hands visible and don't move."
"This is exactly what should happen," Lenora said smugly, "when suspicious people appear in decent neighborhoods with expensive things that obviously don't belong to them."
Ruiz stepped between them. "Maybe we should verify ownership before—"
"I've got this handled, Ruiz." Mercer moved closer to Darius. "Sir, place your hands behind your back."
Darius remained perfectly still. The badge in his hand felt warm against his palm.
"Are you refusing to comply?" Mercer demanded.
"I'm asking if you've done any actual police work here."
"The work I'm doing is protecting this neighborhood from people like you."
People like him. There it was again. Lenora clapped her hands together with delight.
"Yes, that's exactly right."
As Mercer reached toward his handcuffs, Darius slowly brought the badge from behind his back and held it between them. Mercer's hand froze halfway to his handcuffs. His eyes locked onto the badge in Darius's palm.
Ruiz leaned forward, squinting at the credential. His face went pale.