DANIEL BROOKS: "I'm telling you what the credentials establish."
Miller leaned forward, examining the displayed identification more closely.
OFFICER MILLER: "Anyone can carry a card."
DANIEL BROOKS: "Then verify it."
OFFICER MILLER: "You think showing me a card settles everything?"
DANIEL BROOKS: "No. Verification settles questions about authenticity."
Ryan stepped closer, attempting to see the identification without interfering with Miller.
OFFICER RYAN: "Can I take a look?"
Miller immediately turned the credentials away from him.
OFFICER MILLER: "Stay where you are."
OFFICER RYAN: "I just want to read the information."
OFFICER MILLER: "I said stay where you are."
Daniel closed the identification wallet and held it in his hand.
DANIEL BROOKS: "If you believe the credentials are false, there's a procedure for checking them. If you believe they're genuine, that should also be documented."
OFFICER MILLER: "Don't tell me how to do my job."
DANIEL BROOKS: "Then do it properly."
Miller's face flushed.
For several seconds, the older officer appeared to struggle between dismissing Daniel's credentials and acknowledging that the situation required further verification.
His earlier confidence had been based on the belief that he was dealing with an ordinary traveler who could be intimidated into accepting whatever explanation the officers offered.
Now he was facing someone who understood the language of procedure and was insisting that the procedure be followed.
Miller glanced toward the evidence bag.
Then he looked at Daniel again.
OFFICER MILLER: "Even if those credentials are real, they don't give you permission to carry illegal substances."
DANIEL BROOKS: "I haven't claimed otherwise."
OFFICER MILLER: "Then stop acting as if you're untouchable."
DANIEL BROOKS: "I'm not asking to be treated differently. I'm asking you to establish what actually happened."
OFFICER MILLER: "You keep repeating yourself."
DANIEL BROOKS: "Because you keep avoiding the question."
Ryan looked down at the table.
The silence that followed felt different from the earlier pauses. Miller was no longer simply annoyed by Daniel's attitude. He seemed concerned that the encounter might be more complicated than he had first assumed.
Nevertheless, he refused to step back.
OFFICER MILLER: "Fine. We'll verify your credentials. Until then, you're staying here."
DANIEL BROOKS: "That's acceptable."
OFFICER MILLER: "And you will follow every instruction I give you."
DANIEL BROOKS: "I will follow lawful instructions."
Miller pressed his radio button.
OFFICER MILLER: "Control, I need verification assistance for a passenger claiming federal law enforcement credentials."
He provided the relevant information and waited for a response.
The radio crackled.
A voice answered with a request for additional details.
Miller supplied them, keeping his tone firm but noticeably less casual than before.
Daniel stood quietly while the verification request was transmitted. He did not interrupt the conversation or attempt to take control of the process.
Ryan watched Miller's face.
When the radio fell silent, the younger officer asked a question in a lower voice.
OFFICER RYAN: "What happens if his credentials check out?"
Miller looked at him sharply.
OFFICER MILLER: "Then we handle the incident according to procedure."
OFFICER RYAN: "And the evidence?"
OFFICER MILLER: "What about it?"
OFFICER RYAN: "We still need to establish how it got there."
Miller turned away.
OFFICER MILLER: "You are making this more complicated than it needs to be."
OFFICER RYAN: "I'm trying to make sure we do it correctly."
OFFICER MILLER: "Then stop questioning me in front of the passenger."
Ryan said nothing.
Daniel heard the exchange but kept his attention on Miller. He had no intention of turning the younger officer into a target or distracting the investigation from the evidence.
What mattered was that the questions were now being asked.
Miller picked up the transparent bag and examined its contents again.
OFFICER MILLER: "Let's say your credentials are legitimate. That still doesn't explain this."
DANIEL BROOKS: "I've never claimed that it does."
OFFICER MILLER: "Then what are you claiming?"
DANIEL BROOKS: "That someone put something in my suitcase and that you are treating the discovery as proof of guilt without establishing how it got there."
OFFICER MILLER: "You're accusing us of planting evidence."
DANIEL BROOKS: "I'm asking you to account for the evidence."
OFFICER MILLER: "Those are two different things."
DANIEL BROOKS: "Exactly. One is an accusation. The other is a question you still haven't answered."
Miller stared at him.
Daniel remained calm.