Slight tremor.
“Step out.”
The Elderly Man looked toward him.
“Why?”
The Officer sighed.
“Because I told you.”
The Elderly Man opened the door slowly.
He used one hand against the roof to stand.
His right knee stiffened.
The Officer noticed.
“Come on.”
“I’m moving.”
“Move faster.”
The Elderly Man stood.
The wind pushed his coat open.
The Officer’s eyes dropped.
He saw the old leather wallet inside.
Not the driver’s wallet.
Different shape.
Badge wallet.
His attention sharpened.
“What’s that?”
The Elderly Man looked down.
“Something old.”
The Officer reached.
The Elderly Man moved back half a step.
The Officer’s hand stopped.
His expression changed immediately.
“Give it to me.”
“No.”
The answer was quiet.
Not defiant.
But clear.
The Officer stepped closer.
“You carrying police credentials?”
The Elderly Man said nothing.
The Officer pointed.
“Hand it over.”
The Elderly Man looked at the cruiser camera.
Then back.
“Are you asking or ordering?”
The Officer laughed.
“You’re about three seconds from finding out.”
The Elderly Man reached inside his coat.
Slowly.
Removed the leather wallet.
Held it closed.
The Officer snatched it.
The Elderly Man’s hand remained in the air for a second.
Then dropped.
The Officer opened the wallet.
Saw the badge.
His first reaction was confusion.
Then amusement.
The brass was almost brown.
The enamel had chipped.
The leather backing was cracked.
The Officer tilted it toward the daylight.
“Police?”
The Elderly Man looked at him.
“A long time ago.”
The Officer examined the number.
He laughed.
Actually laughed.
“What is this?”
“A badge.”
“This thing looks older than I am.”
“It is.”
The Officer looked at the old man’s coat.
Plain.
His sedan.
Cheap.
His shoes.
Worn.
Nothing matched the authority represented by the object.
“Where did you buy it?”
“I didn’t.”
“Antique store?”
“No.”
“Online?”
The Elderly Man’s jaw tightened.
“No.”
The Officer smiled.
“You impersonating?”
“No.”
“You carrying a fake badge while driving around?”
“It isn’t fake.”
The Officer turned it over.
Old department seal.
Obsolete design.
A division name that had been reorganized decades earlier.
His smile widened.
“You really expect me to believe this?”
The Elderly Man said:
“Call it in.”
The Officer looked at him.
“What?”