No police vehicles were present.
“I don’t see anything posted.”
Briggs put both hands on his hips.
“I’m telling you now.”
Evelyn studied him.
The tone felt familiar.
Not legal.
Personal.
“I’ve been sitting here almost forty minutes.”
“And now I’m telling you to leave.”
She closed the folder.
“Chief Briggs, this is a public park.”
Something changed in his expression.
He knew the name bothered her less than he expected.
“Then you know who you’re talking to.”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
He stepped closer.
“Move.”
Evelyn remained seated.
“I need fifteen minutes.”
“You don’t get to negotiate.”
“I’m not negotiating.”
She looked toward the dog.
“I’m asking what legal authority closes this section of a public park.”
Briggs laughed once.
“You lawyers always do this.”
Evelyn’s eyes narrowed.
He had recognized something.
Perhaps not her face.
Maybe the voice.
Maybe he remembered seeing her in court.
“You think your robe follows you everywhere?”
Evelyn stood slowly.
“I’m not wearing a robe.”
Briggs moved closer.
“That’s your problem.”
“What is?”
“You people think knowing a few rules makes you better than everybody.”
There it was.
Not a statute.
Not a park policy.
Resentment.
Evelyn kept her voice controlled.
“I don’t want a confrontation.”
“I don’t care what you want.”
The dog barked again.
Briggs leaned toward her.
“When somebody in authority tells you to move, you move.”
Evelyn looked past him.
Two joggers had stopped.
A couple near the river had turned around.
An older man sitting beside the playground was watching.
Witnesses.
Good.
Evelyn reached into the pocket of her cardigan.
“I’m going to record this.”
Briggs grabbed her wrist.
Hard.
“No, you’re not.”
Pain shot through her arm.
“Let go.”
“Give me the phone.”
“You are hurting me.”
Briggs reached for the device.
Evelyn twisted her arm back instinctively.
His hand came across her face.
The sound stopped the park.
Evelyn staggered half a step.
Her glasses swung from the chain.
The folder fell open on the bench.
For a moment, even Briggs looked shocked.
Then training, pride, fear, or instinct took over.
His face changed.
“You tried to strike me.”
Evelyn touched her lip.
“No.”
“You swung the phone.”
“No.”
“You resisted.”
“You grabbed me.”
Briggs raised his voice.
“You were ordered to leave a restricted area.”
Evelyn looked past him.
One jogger now held his phone openly.
The couple had theirs out too.
Briggs had not noticed.
He was too busy protecting his version.
“I need identification.”
Evelyn looked at him.
“No.”
His eyebrows rose.
“What?”