Pierce turned. “Police matter, ma’am. Stay on the deck.”
Aaron Blake closed his eyes. “Nolan.”
Rebecca descended one step. “Excuse me?”
Pierce held out one hand. “You need to stay back.”
Blake finally said, “Chief.”
Pierce glanced at him. “What?”
Aaron swallowed. “Chief Sloan.”
Pierce looked at Rebecca again.
Recognition arrived slowly, then all at once. “Chief.”
Rebecca came down the remaining steps. She did not raise her voice.
“Why is Marcus Ellison in handcuffs?”
Pierce swallowed. “Suspicious-person complaint.”
“At his own daughter’s graduation party?” “We were still confirming the residence.”
Rebecca looked around. “You handcuffed him before confirming whether he lived at the address?”
“He was becoming confrontational.”
Marcus said, “No.”
Pierce turned toward him. “You challenged every instruction.”
Naomi pointed toward the cameras. “Everything is recorded.”
Jordan raised his phone. “From before they entered the gate.”
Leon pointed toward the roof. “And those have audio.”
Rebecca looked toward the cameras, then at Marcus’s wrists. “Take off the cuffs.”
Pierce hesitated. “Chief, I still need to—”
“Now.”
He unlocked them.
Marcus brought his hands forward. Deep red pressure marks circled both wrists.
Rebecca saw them. “What crime did you suspect?”
“Possible criminal trespass.”
“Against whom?”
Pierce looked confused. “The homeowner hadn’t been verified.”
“What did Mr. Ellison tell you?”
“That he owned the property.”
“What did his daughter say?”
“That it was the family home.”
“Did you verify either statement?” Rebecca asked.
“Not yet.”
“Why?”
“He was argumentative.”
Marcus looked toward her. “I asked him to run the address.”
Rebecca’s expression hardened. “That is what I’m asking too.”
She turned toward Blake. “Officer Blake, did Mr. Ellison threaten either of you?”
“No, Chief.”
“Raise his voice?”
“No.”
“Refuse to provide his name?”
“No.”
“Attempt to leave?”
“No.”
“Physically resist?”
Aaron hesitated only because Pierce was staring at him. Then he answered.
“No.”