Lawson’s face drained of all color. The arrogant sneer was completely gone, replaced by the hollow, slack-jawed expression of a man watching his entire life burn to the ground. “FBI? What? No. This is a local misunderstanding. I have union representation.” “Your union doesn’t cover federal civil-rights violations, or the illegal detention of a military dependent under DoD protection,” Agent Harrison said smoothly, adjusting his jacket. He looked over at Naomi and gave a polite, deferential nod. “Major Jefferson, command sent us as soon as your emergency beacon pinged dispatch.” “Thank you, Agent Harrison,” Naomi replied. She finally turned her gaze back to Captain Dawson. “Captain, I want his badge. Now.”
Dawson did not hesitate for a fraction of a second. He turned to Lawson. “Officer Mitchell Lawson, you are hereby stripped of your police powers, effective immediately. Hand over your firearm, your Taser, and your badge. You are suspended without pay, pending a full federal and internal-affairs investigation.” “You can’t do this here,” Lawson pleaded, his voice cracking into a high-pitched whine. The tough-guy persona had completely evaporated. He looked around at the crowd of parents, students, and neighbors who were watching him with absolute disgust. “Captain, please. Not in front of the whole town. Let me go back to the precinct.” “You didn’t afford my daughter the dignity of privacy when you slammed her against a car and handcuffed her in front of her classmates,” Naomi said, stepping forward, her presence overwhelmingly dominant. “Take the badge off, Lawson. Now.”
Trembling, Lawson reached for his chest. His fingers fumbled clumsily with the heavy metal shield pinned to his uniform. He unclasped it, the metal clinking loudly in the silent intersection. He handed it to Captain Dawson, along with his duty weapon and his Taser. “Officer Brooks,” Captain Dawson barked. Brooks snapped to attention. “Yes, sir.” “Place Mr. Lawson in handcuffs. He is being detained for questioning by the FBI regarding civil-rights violations and unlawful detainment of a minor.” The sheer poetic justice of the moment was not lost on the crowd. A murmur of approval rippled through the onlookers as Brooks unclipped the very same handcuffs he had just taken off Maya. Brooks walked over to his former mentor. “Hands behind your back, Mitch,” Brooks said, his voice devoid of any sympathy. Lawson offered no resistance. The fight had been completely beaten out of him by a woman who had not even had to lay a finger on him in anger. The sharp click-click of the steel cuffs locking around Lawson’s wrists sounded like music to Maya’s ears.
As Brooks led the disgraced, weeping former cop toward the back of the cruiser, Principal Gable stepped past the police line. She knelt down next to the drone, carefully examining it. “Well, Maya,” Principal Gable said softly, looking up with a warm, reassuring smile. “The rotors seem perfectly intact, and I must say, the wiring is exceptional.” Maya let out a ragged breath, a mixture of a laugh and a sob escaping her throat. Naomi dropped to one knee, wrapping both arms around her daughter, pulling her into a tight, desperate hug. She kissed the top of Maya’s head, her military stoicism finally breaking just enough to let a mother’s fierce love pour through. “You did perfectly, baby girl,” Naomi whispered into her daughter’s ear. “You remembered your training. You stayed calm. I am so incredibly proud of you.” “I told him, Mom,” Maya cried into her mother’s shoulder, the adrenaline finally leaving her system. “I told him you were coming.” “I’ll always come,” Naomi promised, standing up and taking the heavy JSOC case by the handle. She looked at Principal Gable. “Susan, would you mind giving us an escort to the gymnasium? I believe my daughter has a STEM fair to win.”