She knew how to walk into a courtroom and dismantle a defense attorney's argument piece by piece without raising her voice. She knew how to negotiate plea deals and how to stand in front of a jury and make them see exactly what she needed them to see. But right now, driving toward the police station with the video of her son being tasered still playing in her mind, she was not thinking like a prosecutor. She was thinking like a mother. She pulled into the parking lot of the station, got out of her car, and walked through the front doors with the kind of focused intensity that made people move out of her way without being asked.
The desk sergeant looked up as she approached. "Can I help you, ma'am?" Rebecca's voice was calm, but every word carried weight. "Where is my son?" The desk sergeant blinked.
"Ma'am, I'm going to need more information." Who? Rebecca cut him off. "Elijah Turner, 12 years old. Just brought in by one of your officers.
"Where is he?" The desk sergeant looked down at his computer screen, typed in the name, and his face went slightly pale when he saw the booking information. He looked back up at Rebecca, and his tone shifted into something more cautious. "Ma'am, if you'd like to have a seat, I can—" Rebecca leaned forward slightly and her voice dropped to something that was almost a whisper but somehow carried more force than shouting ever could. "I'm State Attorney Rebecca Turner.
That's my son, and I want him released right now." The desk sergeant's eyes went wide. He stood up immediately. "I'll get the chief." Rebecca didn't move.
She stood at the desk and waited. And within 2 minutes, the chief of police came out of his office looking like a man who had just been told his house was on fire. Chief Howard was 52 years old, had been with the department for 28 years, and had worked with Rebecca Turner on dozens of cases over the years. He knew exactly who she was and exactly how much power she had. And right now, standing in his own station looking at her face, he knew he had a very serious problem.
"Mrs. Turner," he said carefully, "I understand there's been an incident involving your son. I want you to know." Rebecca cut him off. "Where is he?" Chief Howard hesitated for just a second, and that second was too long.
Rebecca's voice went cold. "Where is my son?" Chief Howard nodded quickly. "He's in a holding area. I'll have him brought out immediately."
Rebecca's eyes didn't leave his face. "Uncuff him first." Chief Howard turned to the desk sergeant. "Bring him out uncuffed." 3 minutes later, a door opened at the back of the station, and Elijah walked out.