"My license is in my wallet, in my purse on the passenger seat. My registration and insurance are in the glove compartment." I have to reach across to get them. Is that all right with you, officer? Riker's flashlight dipped slightly, illuminating the pristine cream-colored leather of the interior.
He chewed the inside of his cheek. Go ahead. Slowly, Nia reached over, retrieved the documents, and handed them through the window. Riker snatched them, holding them up to the beam of his flashlight. He looked at the Oregon driver's license, noting her age, her photo, and then looked back down at her.
A smirk, tight and patronizing, touched the corners of his mouth. "Nia Caldwell," Riker read aloud, rolling the syllables around as if tasting something sour. ""Nice car, Nia. Whose is it? Your boyfriend's? A rental company in Seattle?"
It's mine, officer, Nia said, keeping her eyes forward. Registered in my name. The documents you're holding confirm that. Riker let out a short, breathy laugh. He tapped the laminated registration against his knuckles.
A 24-year-old in a $300,000 piece of British engineering. Forgive me if I find that a little hard to swallow. What do you do for a living, Miss Caldwell? I'm a software engineer, Nia replied evenly, keeping both hands visible on the steering wheel. May I ask why I was pulled over?
I was maintaining the speed limit and haven't violated any traffic laws that I'm aware of. You crossed the solid white line onto the shoulder about 2 mi back. Riker lied smoothly. His expression remained neutral, as though he were reciting an ordinary traffic violation. It was a phantom offense, impossible to prove or disprove, but it gave him the perfect pretext for a fishing expedition.
He leaned slightly toward the open window, studying her face. "You also seem a little nervous," he continued. "You carrying anything in the vehicle I should know about? Weapons? Large amounts of currency?
Narcotics?" Nia's fingers tightened slightly around the steering wheel, but her voice remained calm. "No, officer. No, sir. Just my luggage in the front trunk.