Think she's a lawyer now. Maybe she watched a few too many shows. Boyd snickered behind him. Pierce stayed silent, his eyes moving back and forth between the sergeant and the two women. Something visibly working behind his face.
Some private argument he hadn't yet decided how to settle. Hutchkins climbed another step. Close enough now that Norah could smell coffee on his breath. You want to know about authority? Here's your authority.
He reached for her wrist. It was the same move he'd used on dozens of people over the years. Quick, practiced, meant to control. His thick fingers closed around her arm. Norah moved before she had time to think about it.
Years of training took over, the kind that lives in the body long after the classroom is forgotten. Her wrist twisted sharply counterclockwise, breaking his grip clean. His own forward momentum carried him past her. He stumbled, grabbed at the porch railing to keep from falling, and caught himself there breathing hard, offbalance for the first time since he'd stepped out of his cruiser. Boyd's face twisted with rage.
She assaulted him. She attacked a police officer. He charged up the steps, heavy boots pounding against the old wood. Vivien moved between them fast, hands raised, but not threatening. A wall placed exactly where it needed to be.
"Stop, " she said, and something in her voice made even Boyd freeze midstep. "Everyone stop right now. " For a moment, nobody moved. Hutchkins straightened against the railing, his face burning with something worse than anger. Three of his own officers had just watched a suspect break his hold without breaking a sweat.
"You want to resist arrest? " he snarled. "You want to assault police officers? Fine. You just made this a felony.
I defended myself against unlawful contact, " Norah said. Her voice cold now controlled. "You grabbed me without cause. " "Unlawful contact? " Hutchkins voice rose.