“Badge number.”
The Elderly Man nodded toward the radio.
“Call it in.”
The Officer laughed harder.
The Elderly Man’s expression remained flat.
That irritated him.
The Officer snapped the wallet closed.
Then tossed it.
Not back into the car.
Onto the asphalt.
The leather wallet hit the road near the white line.
It bounced once.
Opened.
The old badge flashed dull gold against gray pavement.
The Elderly Man looked down.
For several seconds he said nothing.
The Officer pointed toward it.
“Pick up your junk.”
The old man’s face changed.
Very little.
But enough.
Something ancient moved behind his eyes.
The Officer did not notice.
“Then get back in your car.”
The Elderly Man looked at him.
“You should have checked the number.”
The Officer stepped closer.
“I’m done with the old-man routine.”
“Pick it up.”
“Drive away.”
“And be grateful I’m not booking you for carrying fake credentials.”
The Elderly Man looked toward the badge.
Then at the Officer.
“Check.”
“The number.”
The Officer smirked.
“Fine.”
He keyed his shoulder radio.
“Dispatch.”
Static.
Then:
“Go ahead.”
The Officer looked down at the badge lying in the road.
“Run obsolete badge number zero-four-one-seven.”
A pause.
The Officer smiled at the Elderly Man.
“See?”
Nothing.
Then dispatch returned.
“Repeat number.”
The Officer rolled his eyes.
“Zero-four-one-seven.”
Silence again.
Longer.
The Officer looked impatient.
The Elderly Man did not move.
A truck passed.
Wind from it rattled the badge wallet against the asphalt.
The dispatcher came back.
Different tone.
“Unit Twelve, confirm you are requesting employee credential zero-four-one-seven.”
The Officer frowned.
“That’s what I said.”
Another pause.
Then:
“Stand by.”
The Officer looked at the Elderly Man.
“What department did you steal this from?”
The Elderly Man ignored him.
“Answer me.”
Nothing.
The Officer stepped close enough that their coats nearly touched.
Then his radio exploded with a voice far sharper than before.
“Unit Twelve.”
The Officer grabbed the microphone.
“Go.”
“Stand down immediately.”
His smile disappeared.
“What?”
“Repeat: stand down.”
The dispatcher’s breathing was audible.
“Do not detain.”
“Do not seize property.”
“Do not continue questioning until command responds.”
The Officer stared at the radio.
The Elderly Man slowly looked toward him.
The dispatcher continued.
“Badge zero-four-one-seven is confirmed.”
The Officer’s face tightened.
“That’s impossible.”
“Record is restricted.”
“Legacy command file.”
“Commissioner-level seal.”
The Officer looked at the old man.
Then at the road.
Then back.
The dispatcher lowered her voice.
“Unit Twelve…”