Simone gave her a look.
“Not helping.”
Then Simone looked back at Reed.
“We are federal special agents.”
Nobody behind them spoke.
Even their friends who knew they worked for the government had not expected that sentence to become relevant beside a barbecue table.
Reed laughed once.
“You expect me to believe that?”
Simone nodded toward his radio.
“Verify it.”
“You assaulted a deputy.”
“You grabbed me after I denied consent to a search.”
“You threw me into a trash can.”
“You were reaching toward your belt.”
“I was reaching for my radio.”
“Then bodycam will help.”
Reed glanced down.
The red recording indicator on his body-worn camera was on.
Simone saw it.
“So will that.”
Sirens approached.
The party ended in every practical sense at 1:46 p.m.
Nobody touched the food.
Nobody restarted music.
Children were moved inside a neighbor’s home.
People stood under trees staring toward the side gate as three sheriff’s vehicles arrived.
The first supervisor through was Sergeant Alicia Moreno.
She took in the scene within seconds.
Deputy Reed.
Two Black women standing apart with hands visible.
Dozens of witnesses.
Phones.
A trash bin angled beside a grill.
Then she saw the orange dress stained near one shoulder where Reed’s glove had smeared sauce and charcoal from the table edge.
“Who’s armed?”
Reed pointed.
“They say they’re federal.”
Moreno looked at Simone.
“Are you?”
“Yes.”
“Agency?”
“FBI.”
Moreno’s expression changed only slightly.
She looked at Talia.
“HSI.”
Talia slowly clarified.
“Credentials in the purse on the patio table. Weapon is secured inside the house.”
Simone added, “Mine too. I’m off duty.”
Moreno nodded.
Nobody reached for anything.
She asked another deputy to retrieve Talia’s credential case under her direction.
Talia explained exactly where it was.
Black purse.
Front zipper.
Leather credential wallet.
Deputy Marcus Hill removed the case.
Opened it.
Looked at Moreno.
“Confirmed.”
Reed stared.
Moreno examined it herself.
Then looked toward Simone.
“Your credentials?”
“Kitchen safe.”
“Can someone retrieve them without you entering?”
“My cousin Darius knows the code?”
Darius looked horrified.
“No, I do not.”
Simone almost laughed.
“Right.”
Talia knew it.
Under supervision, Talia entered the kitchen with Moreno and returned holding Simone’s credential wallet.
Moreno opened it.
The gold shield caught sunlight.
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
SPECIAL AGENT SIMONE L. CARTER
Moreno closed the case.
The yard remained silent.
Reed looked toward Simone differently now.
She noticed.
That bothered her more than she expected.
“Do not do that.”