“Suspicious behavior.”
“That is not a crime.”
“Failure to follow a lawful order.”
“You have not established a lawful basis for the order.”
Mercer moved closer until the toes of his boots nearly touched Isaiah's.
“You think because you're small I won't put you on the ground?”
The sentence changed everything.
Inside the van, Keller's hand moved toward the door handle.
Lena stared at him.
“Boss?”
Keller shook his head once.
“Cole decides.”
Isaiah could see the FBI operation unfolding behind Mercer.
Voss had reached inside his coat.
The man in gray had opened one side of his jacket.
The brown leather case passed between them for less than two seconds.
There it was.
The exchange.
Isaiah moved his right thumb against the side of his glove, pressing a concealed transmitter.
One click.
Confirmation.
Lena's voice instantly filled the team's channel.
“Exchange confirmed.”
Keller answered, “Alpha team hold. Let recipient clear. We take both away from civilians.”
Mercer saw Isaiah's hand move.
His reaction was immediate.
“Don't reach!”
He grabbed Isaiah's wrist.
Isaiah twisted only enough to prevent the officer from forcing his arm behind him.
“Let go.”
“Stop resisting!”
“Officer, release my arm.”
“Get on the ground.”
“I am not getting on wet pavement when I have committed no crime.”
Mercer shoved him toward the bench.
Several people gasped.
The stroller woman stopped completely.
One college student raised his phone.
Isaiah's coffee fell from the bench, spilling brown liquid across the thin dusting of snow.
Mercer reached for his handcuffs.
Isaiah looked directly into his eyes.
“Officer Mercer.”
The fact that Isaiah suddenly used his name made him pause.
Isaiah had read it from the uniform tag.
“You need to listen carefully,” Isaiah continued. “Walk away from me now.”
Mercer's face reddened.
“Or what?”
Isaiah gave him one final chance.
“Or the worst decision of your career is going to happen in the next thirty seconds.”
Mercer stared.
Then he laughed.
“You hear that?” he called toward the people recording. “Now he's threatening a police officer.”
“That was not a threat.”
“It sounded like one.”
“It was advice.”
Mercer pulled one of Isaiah's arms behind his back.
Isaiah allowed it.
At that moment, fighting the officer would do more damage to the federal operation than being handcuffed.