Cole stumbled backward.
He grabbed toward her again.
Nia came partly out of the seat.
Her forearm drove between them.
Cole’s sunglasses fell.
He lost his balance at the edge of the open door.
For one second, his boots scrambled across the pavement.
Then Sergeant Travis Cole fell backward onto the parking lot.
His shoulder hit first.
Then his hip.
The sunglasses bounced beside him.
Nia stepped completely out of the Jeep.
She did not follow him to the ground.
She did not strike again.
She stood beside the open door breathing hard.
Cole rolled partly onto one side.
His face had turned red.
“What the hell is wrong with you?”
Nia stared down at him.
“You put your hand on my throat.”
“I was removing you from a restricted area.”
“You never verified who I was.”
Cole reached toward his radio.
Nia remained where she was.
Elena kept recording.
The next voice came through Cole’s shoulder microphone before he could speak.
“Two-fourteen, Communications.”
Cole pressed the button.
“Go.”
“Confirm status at command lot.”
Cole looked toward Nia.
“Uncooperative trespasser. Send me another unit.”
There was a pause.
Long enough that Nia noticed.
Then dispatch answered.
“Two-fourteen, be advised the Jeep is cleared through City Manager authorization.”
Cole’s face changed.
Nia said nothing.
Dispatch continued.
“Registered visitor is Nia Bennett.”
Another pause.
Cole looked up.
He knew the name.
Everyone in supervisory ranks had heard one detail about Monday’s announcement.
The incoming chief’s last name was Bennett.
Communications spoke again.
“Captain Lewis is en route. Do not escalate contact.”
Cole stared at Nia.
She looked back.
He slowly pushed himself upright.
“No.”
The word came out quietly.
Nia did not smile.
She did not need to.
Cole looked toward her Jeep, the command-space marking, then back at her face.
“You’re—”
Nia finished it.
“Nia Bennett.”
Cole stood completely still.