Two weeks earlier she had recommended pulling him from proactive patrol.
The recommendation had been deferred.
Now he had generated exactly the type of encounter she had warned about.
She drove faster than usual, but not recklessly.
While en route, she called her lieutenant.
“Tell me someone has reviewed Hayes’s prior complaints.”
Silence.
“Maria—”
“I asked a question.”
“We’re working it.”
“You had two weeks.”
“Handle the scene first.”
“I intend to.”
She disconnected.
When Santos entered the parking lot, she saw six people holding phones.
Hayes stood beside an open Mercedes.
Nicole remained seated inside.
The body language told Maria enough.
“Hayes.”
He turned.
“Sergeant.”
“Step away from the vehicle.”
“I’m investigating—”
“Step away.”
Her tone left no space.
Hayes moved back.
Maria approached Nicole.
“Ma’am, Sergeant Maria Santos, Phoenix Police. Are you injured?”
“No.”
“May I see the credentials you presented?”
Nicole handed them over.
Maria inspected them.
Photograph.
Seal.
Credential number.
Agency.
She did what Hayes had refused to do.
She verified.
It took less than two minutes.
The dispatcher confirmed the credential through the appropriate law-enforcement contact.
Special Agent Nicole Foster.
ATF Phoenix Field Division.
Active.
Maria returned the wallet.
“Thank you.”
Then she looked at Mateo.
“Does Agent Foster live here?”
“Yes.”
“Assigned parking?”
“Space forty-seven.”
“Vehicle registered with the building?”
“Yes.”
Maria checked the permit.
Then Nicole’s vehicle registration.
Everything matched.
She turned to Hayes.
“What was your original reason for contact?”
“Suspicious vehicle.”
“What made it suspicious?”
“Running engine. Occupant sitting for an extended period.”
“How long did you observe it?”
Hayes hesitated.
“I don’t know.”
“Your camera will.”
He said nothing.
“Any dispatch call?”
“No.”
“Any theft bulletin matching the car?”
“Not specifically.”
“Any plate return showing stolen?”
“No.”
“Any resident complaint?”
“No.”
Maria looked at him for a long moment.
“Then explain why you told her she didn’t live here before you verified anything.”
Hayes’s face flushed.
“She didn’t look like—”
He stopped.
Everyone heard the unfinished sentence.
Nicole looked at him.
Maria’s expression hardened.
“She didn’t look like what?”
Hayes shook his head.
“That’s not what I meant.”
“What did you mean?”
“I meant the circumstances didn’t look right.”
“You said she didn’t live here.”
“She was evasive.”
Nicole spoke for the first time since Maria arrived.
“I gave him my unit number.”