Captain Marcus said quietly, "If you're concerned about evidence, perhaps we should preserve everything exactly where it is until proper warrants can be obtained. " Pike whirled toward him. "You don't get to make suggestions about evidence preservation," Hail. In fact, I'm ordering your personal property held for investigation. He strode toward the chair holding Marcus'ss jacket. "Stop," Dalton commanded.
"That jacket belongs to a federal agent. You need a warrant to seize federal property. I need reasonable suspicion of criminal activity, Pike replied, reaching for the jacket, which I have. Elena moved to intercept him. Captain Pike, you are not authorized to.
Pike's hand closed around the jacket fabric. Ma'am, step back immediately or I'll charge you with interfering with evidence collection. "Don't touch my fiance's property," Elena said. Her voice dropping to a dangerous level. Pike pulled the jacket toward himself.
This jacket is evidence in a criminal investigation. It's coming with me. That's when Marcus moved. Despite the handcuffs, he stepped directly between Pike and Elena. The metal bit deeper into his wrists, but he positioned himself so Pike would have to go through him to get to Elena.
"Captain," Marcus said calmly, ""You need to step away from my fiance. "" Pike's face flushed red. ""Get back, Hail, or I'll add assault on an officer to your charges. "" "I'm standing still," Marcus replied. "You're the one moving toward my wife. " "She's not your wife yet? " Pike snarled, clutching the jacket tighter. The tension in the room spiked instantly. Federal agents throughout the ballroom shifted positions, hands moving closer to weapons. Pike's remaining officers did the same.
Morrison and Fletcher still flanked Briggs near the entrance, but their attention was now focused on their captain. Elena stepped closer to Marcus's shoulder. ""Captain Pike, you are escalating a situation that doesn't need to become violent. "" "I'm doing my job," Pike replied, but his voice was higher now, stressed. Marcus could feel the ballroom balanced on the edge of something dangerous. 30 federal agents, four local officers, nearly 70 wedding guests trapped in the middle. Pike holding Marcus'ss jacket like a trophy while Marcus stood handcuffed between him and Elena.
Dalton's voice cut through the tension like a blade. "Everyone remain calm. Nobody draw weapons. Nobody makes sudden movements. " She approached Pike slowly, hands visible and empty. Captain, I'm going to ask you to release Agent Hail's property and step back.
This doesn't need to escalate further. Pike looked around the room at all the faces watching him. Federal agents ready to act, his own officers looking uncertain. Wedding guests pressed against the walls. He was outnumbered, but he wasn't giving up.
"This evidence stays with local command," Pike announced. He tucked Marcus'ss jacket under his arm and bent to retrieve the phone from the floor. Agent Hail remains in custody pending charges, and this ballroom stays locked until I say otherwise. Dalton's expression didn't change, but Marcus could see the calculation in her eyes. Pike had successfully separated him from his phone and jacket.