“That is not an order. It is the simplest legal step available to you.”
Maddox leaned toward Bennett.
“They all know the vocabulary now.”
The words were quiet.
Not quiet enough.
A man wearing a navy overcoat turned his phone more directly toward Maddox.
Renee heard him too.
“What was that, Officer?”
Maddox smiled.
“Nothing.”
“Name?”
“You can see my badge.”
“Badge number?”
He tapped his chest.
“Read it yourself.”
The woman with the dog said, “Come on, man.”
Maddox looked toward her.
“Stay out of this.”
That made three more phones rise.
Rusk stepped closer to Renee.
He lowered his voice.
“You need to decide whether a car is worth getting arrested over.”
Renee looked at him.
“That statement should concern you more than it concerns me.”
“You are interfering.”
“I am standing beside my lawfully parked property.”
“We received credible information involving stolen luxury vehicles.”
“What vehicle?”
Rusk’s expression hardened.
“I don’t answer to you.”
“That is becoming increasingly clear.”
The older man in the navy coat laughed once.
Rusk turned toward him.
“You want to move along?”
The man raised his phone.
“I’m standing on a public sidewalk.”
Rusk looked away.
Renee took a slow breath.
“Lieutenant, this can still end very simply.”
“Oh?”
“Run the plate.”
Rusk said nothing.
“Run the VIN.”
Nothing.
“Compare both with your theft report.”
Still nothing.
Renee nodded once.
“Then stop towing the car.”
Rusk turned toward Maddox.
“Check the vehicle.”
Renee’s expression changed.
“No.”
Maddox walked toward the driver’s side.
Renee stepped forward.
“You do not have my consent to search that vehicle.”
Rusk pointed toward her.
“Back up.”
“You have no warrant.”
“Possible stolen vehicle gives us probable cause.”
“You have not established that it is stolen.”
Maddox tried the door.
Locked.
He looked toward Rusk.
“What do you want?”
“Open it.”
The tow operator took one step backward.
“Lieutenant, I’m not part of breaking windows.”
“You’re not being asked to.”
Maddox removed a spring-loaded glass punch from his equipment.
Renee spoke clearly.
“Officer Maddox.”
He turned.
“If you break that window without conducting the verification I have repeatedly requested, understand that you are making a choice you will later have to explain under oath.”
Maddox smiled.
“Are you threatening me?”
“No.”
Renee’s voice was calm.
“I am helping you remember this moment.”
Then he struck the glass.
The driver’s window shattered.
The sound was sharp enough that several pedestrians jumped.
Tiny pieces of safety glass scattered across the cream leather interior.
The tow driver muttered something under his breath.
Officer Bennett looked at Rusk.
Rusk said nothing.
Maddox reached through the broken window.
Unlocked the door.