“I'm his wife.”
“I understand. We need space to assess him.”
“His medication is in the kitchen. I can get it.”
“Please tell me what he takes.”
She began listing the medication names, struggling to remember the exact dosages.
Meanwhile, Marcus remained beside the cruiser.
“Officer,” he said to Harlan, “I need to go with my father.”
“You're under arrest.”
“For what?”
“Assaulting a law enforcement officer.”
Marcus looked toward Miller.
The younger deputy's expression tightened.
“Sergeant, we haven't even established what happened.”
Harlan turned.
“Do you have a problem?”
Miller lowered his voice.
“We need to document the medical emergency first.”
“We are documenting it.”
“Then why is he still restrained?”
“Because he assaulted me.”
Marcus heard the exchange.
He did not interrupt.
He knew that anything he said could be interpreted as another challenge.
The paramedic looked up from Thomas.
“Who is the family member?”
“I'm his son,” Marcus answered.
The paramedic glanced at Harlan.
“Can he come closer?”
Harlan shook his head.
“Not until we finish here.”
The paramedic frowned.
“We need to know whether he has relevant medical information.”
“I can provide it,” Evelyn said quickly.
She gave the paramedic the names of Thomas's doctors and explained that he had experienced a previous cardiac episode.
The paramedic asked whether Thomas had complained of chest pain.
Evelyn said he had mentioned pressure that morning but insisted it was probably indigestion.
Marcus shut his eyes.
He had spoken to his father about that during breakfast.
He had told him to call his cardiologist.
Thomas had laughed and promised he would.
Now the ambulance crew was lifting him onto a stretcher.
The paramedic called out that they were transporting him.
Evelyn reached for her husband's hand.
“I'm coming with you.”
She climbed into the ambulance.
Before the doors closed, she looked at her son.
Marcus was still handcuffed.
“Mom,” he called.
She turned.
“Tell them everything.”
“I will.”
The ambulance doors shut.
The siren began again.
Marcus watched the vehicle disappear down the road.
Only then did he look back at Harlan.
“Now can you tell me what I'm being arrested for?”
Harlan pulled him away from the cruiser.
“You'll find out at the station.”
The ride to the sheriff's office lasted twenty-three minutes.
Marcus sat in the back of the patrol vehicle with his wrists cuffed behind him.
The handcuffs were tight.
He had not complained about them because he had been focused on his father. But as the adrenaline faded, pain began spreading through his shoulders.
Harlan drove.
Miller followed in a second vehicle.
At a stoplight, Harlan glanced at Marcus through the rearview mirror.
“You military?”
Marcus did not answer immediately.
“Yes.”
“What branch?”
“Navy.”
Harlan gave a short laugh.
“Figures.”
Marcus looked out the window.
“What does that mean?”
“Nothing.”
The officer turned back toward the road.
A minute passed.
Then Harlan spoke again.
“You people always think you can tell us how to do our jobs.”
Marcus looked at him.
“I'm asking why you arrested me.”
“You put your hands on me.”
“I stopped you from grabbing my neck.”
“You'll have a chance to explain that to a judge.”
Marcus said nothing.
Harlan seemed dissatisfied by the silence.
“What's the matter? Not so tough now?”
Marcus looked down at his cuffed hands.
“I don't need to be tough.”
The officer snorted.
“That's what they all say.”
Marcus had learned a long time ago that some people interpreted silence as weakness and explanations as disrespect.
He had no intention of giving Harlan either.
At the station, he was taken through the booking area.
A deputy asked for his name, date of birth, and address.
Marcus answered.
When asked whether he had any injuries, he said his shoulder hurt and that the cuffs had been applied tightly.
The deputy wrote something down.
Harlan interrupted.
“He's fine.”
The booking deputy looked up.
“I asked him.”
“And I'm telling you he's fine.”
The deputy hesitated, then continued entering the information.
Marcus asked to make a phone call.
Harlan told him he could do that after processing.
Marcus asked whether he could contact his mother.
“No.”
“She is at the hospital with my father.”
“Then she knows where you are.”
“She doesn't know whether I'm injured or what you're charging me with.”
Harlan leaned against the counter.
“You should have thought about that before you decided to assault a police officer.”
Marcus looked at him.
“Are you charging me with assault?”
Harlan did not answer.
“Then what am I being booked for?”
“Resisting arrest.”
Marcus stared at him.
“I was already asking you to let me help my father before you put your hands on me.”
“That's your version.”
“And the cameras?”
Harlan's expression changed slightly.
“What cameras?”
Marcus nodded toward the booking area.
“My parents have security cameras covering the driveway.”
For a moment, Harlan said nothing.
Then he smiled.
“Good. We'll see what they show.”
Marcus looked at him.
“Yes,” he said. “We will.”
At the hospital, Thomas Reed was taken directly into the emergency department.
Evelyn followed the stretcher until a nurse stopped her outside a treatment room.
She was shaking.
Her husband had suffered a serious cardiac episode. The medical team was working to stabilize him.
A doctor came out after several minutes.
“Are you Mrs. Reed?”
“Yes.”
“Your husband is receiving treatment. His condition is serious, but we're doing everything we can.”
Evelyn pressed a hand to her mouth.
“Can I see him?”
“Soon. We need to finish some tests first.”
She nodded.
Then she remembered her son.
“Doctor, my other son—”
“Your other son?”
“My son was arrested. He was trying to help his father. The officer wouldn't let him go.”
The doctor looked concerned.
“Was your son injured?”
“I don't know. He was slammed against a police car.”
The doctor advised her to contact the sheriff's office and ask about his condition.