Not searching.
Performing.
Then her hand reached his inside jacket pocket.
Adrian’s entire body tightened.
His credential case.
Sloan pulled it out.
She opened it.
The gold FBI shield caught sunlight.
For one second, she froze.
Adrian thought the operation was over.
Then Sloan laughed.
“Look at this.”
She turned toward Price and Malone.
“This guy bought himself an FBI badge.”
Adrian stared.
Price laughed first.
Malone joined.
Sloan held the credentials between two fingers.
“Special Agent Adrian Brooks.”
She looked toward Adrian.
“That’s not even the name you gave me.”
Adrian said nothing.
“Impersonating a federal officer.”
She smiled.
“That’s serious.”
She tossed the credential case onto the concrete.
It landed beside the ruined cake.
Chocolate frosting smeared across the leather.
Then Sloan stepped on it.
Adrian’s face changed for the first time.
Renee saw it.
“Adrian.”
He did not look at her.
Sloan ground her heel down.
“Stop pretending you’re important.”
Elijah suddenly ran forward.
“Don’t step on my dad’s badge!”
Renee grabbed him before he reached Sloan.
“Elijah!”
“Leave him alone!”
The boy struggled against his mother.
“That’s my dad!”
Sloan turned toward him.
“Control your child.”
Renee tightened her arms around Elijah.
“He’s eight.”
“Eight is old enough to learn respect.”
Sloan stepped closer.
“Maybe Child Protective Services should explain that.”
Renee’s eyes widened.
“What?”
Sloan removed her radio.
“Possible child endangerment.”
Adrian looked up.
“Do not.”
She smiled.
“Excuse me?”
“Do not threaten my son.”
Something in his voice made Price stop laughing.
Sloan noticed.
Then, instead of backing away, she grabbed Elijah’s wrist.
The boy screamed.
“Mom!”
Renee pulled toward him.
Sloan held tighter.
“I said maybe someone else needs to teach him discipline.”
Adrian stood.
Not quickly.
Not dramatically.
Just enough.
Price’s hand moved toward his weapon.
Malone stepped backward.
Adrian looked at Sloan.
“Take your hand off my son.”
Sloan’s confidence flickered.
Then returned.
“Get back down.”
“Release him.”
“You think you’re giving me orders?”
Adrian reached slowly inside his jacket.
All three officers tensed.
Renee knew what was coming before they did.
Adrian removed his phone.
Sloan laughed.
“You calling a lawyer?”
Adrian pressed one number.
The call connected almost immediately.
“This is Brooks.”
His voice changed.
Not louder.
Sharper.