His face was flushed. His breathing rapid and shallow. "You people don't understand what's at stake here. That jacket—" Pike grabbed Briggs's arm. "Sergeant Briggs, you are removed from active duty effective immediately. " Officers Morrison and Fletcher will escort you outside for administrative review.
Morrison straightened. For the first time since entering the ballroom, he looked relieved. "Yes, sir. " Sergeant Briggs, please come with us. Briggs looked around the room wildly. Federal agents, wedding guests, his own officers turning against him.
Pike standing rigid with barely controlled fury. "This isn't over," Briggs said. But his voice had lost its earlier confidence. "This isn't over by a long shot. " Morrison took Briggs's left arm. Fletcher took his right.
Together, they guided him toward the ballroom exit. Briggs didn't resist, but he kept his eyes fixed on Marcus until the doors closed behind them. Pike remained in the center of the ballroom, now the sole focus of 30 federal agents and nearly 70 wedding guests. His uniform looked crisp and professional, but his hands were trembling slightly. "I'm assuming command of this scene," Pike announced.
His voice carried forced authority. Everything that just happened will be reviewed through proper departmental channels. Dalton smiled. It wasn't a friendly expression. "Captain Pike," she said quietly.
I think we need to have a very detailed conversation about how your sergeant knew exactly what to look for in my agent's jacket. Pike stood in the center of the ballroom, his uniform still pressed and professional despite everything that had just unfolded. Briggs waited near the entrance under Morrison and Fletcher's watchful eyes, but Pike's attention had already shifted to larger concerns. "Ladies and gentlemen," Pike announced, his voice carrying across the marble floor. ""This ballroom is now a secured crime scene. Nobody will be permitted to leave until all evidence has been properly collected and statements have been taken. "" A murmur of protest rippled through the wedding guests.
Someone near the back called out, ""You can't hold us here without cause. "" Pike's smile was thin and cold. I have every legal right to secure a scene where federal agents may have interfered with a lawful police operation. That interference potentially compromised evidence and created officer safety concerns. Elena stepped forward, her wedding dress rustling against the marble. Captain Pike, what specific evidence are you claiming was compromised?
And by what authority are you detaining nearly 100 people? By the authority of the badge on my chest and 20 years of police experience, Pike shot back. Your boyfriend's friends decided to turn a simple arrest into a federal circus. Now we have to clean up the mess. Dalton was already on her radio.
Control, this is special agent Dalton. I need legal counsel and supervisory personnel at the Meridian Hotel immediately. Local command is attempting to detain federal personnel without cause. Pike turned toward the hotel manager who had been standing frozen near the service entrance throughout the entire confrontation. Sir, I need to speak with you about your security system.