“I bought one thing today.”
Nia lifted her chin toward the receipt lying near her wallet.
“The receipt is right there.”
Boone glanced at it.
“That's for perfume.”
“Yes.”
“Not jewelry.”
“Exactly.”
He smiled faintly.
Nia stared at him.
It was such an absurd response that for a moment she forgot she was afraid.
“Exactly?”
Boone slipped the pouch into his evidence bag.
“You have the right to explain everything at the station.”
“You put that there.”
The parking lot became quieter.
Harlan leaned toward her.
“Careful.”
Nia looked directly at Boone.
“You put that in my bag.”
Boone’s smile disappeared.
“She's accusing us now.”
Harlan said:
“Everybody does.”
Nia’s breathing changed.
Faster.
Not panic yet.
Approaching it.
She forced herself to slow down.
“Check the cameras.”
Neither officer answered.
“Shopping center cameras.”
“Your body cameras.”
“The patrol car.”
“Check all of it.”
Boone zipped his evidence bag.
“Save it for your attorney.”
Nia looked toward the crowd.
She saw phones.
Good.
Someone was recording.
Maybe several people.
She raised her voice.
“My name is Nia Bennett.”
Harlan pulled her upright.
“What are you doing?”
She spoke louder.
“My name is Nia Bennett.”
“Stop.”
“I did not steal anything.”
Harlan began moving her toward the rear passenger door of the patrol car.
Nia continued.
“The officer took something from my bag that was not mine.”
Boone snapped:
“That's enough.”
Nia looked toward every phone she could see.
“Record the bag.”
“Record the officers.”
Harlan opened the rear door.
“Get in.”
Nia stopped.
“I want your supervisor.”
“You'll get one at the station.”
“Here.”
“Get in.”
“No.”
Harlan pushed downward on her shoulder.
Nia caught the roof edge instinctively.
The metal cuffs bit deeper.
She winced.
“Don't do that.”
“Then sit.”
The elderly woman across the parking lot moved slightly closer.
Still filming.
Boone noticed her.
He pointed.
“Ma’am, back up.”
She did not lower the phone.
“I’m on the sidewalk.”
“Stay out of the investigation.”
“I’m twenty feet away.”
“Then stay twenty feet away.”
She said nothing.
Kept recording.
Nia lowered herself into the rear seat.
Harlan shut the door.
The world changed instantly.
Sound became muffled.
Glass separated her from the people outside.
She looked through the window.
Boone was speaking to Harlan near the hood.
Her handbag still sat open.
Something about their body language bothered her.