Karen raised her phone slightly.
"I have a recording."
The officer turned toward her.
"Put that away."
"No."
"You need to understand that recording an officer can create complications."
"Then you shouldn't have done anything worth recording."
The middle-aged man looked at Karen, then back at Vance.
"She's right."
Vance looked around the platform.
He seemed to be losing control of the situation with every passing minute.
A faint announcement came through the station speakers, informing passengers that a train was approaching on the opposite track. The sound echoed through the tiled corridor, but nobody in the immediate area moved.
The train arrived with a rush of air.
Its doors opened several yards away.
Passengers stepped out, noticed the gathering, and slowed down.
A few looked at Frank lying on the floor.
Others noticed the officer standing over him.
The platform became more crowded.
Vance raised his voice.
"Everyone clear the area!"
Several passengers moved away, but Karen remained where she was.
Frank looked toward the incoming train.
He wondered how easily the incident could have disappeared if the platform had been empty. If nobody had seen the envelope enter the officer's vest. If nobody had recorded the shove. If the communication device had not connected to dispatch.
He knew that many people would have simply accepted whatever explanation the officer gave.
An elderly man had fallen.
A disagreement had occurred.
There had been confusion.
The details would have been lost beneath a convenient report.
But this time, the details were not disappearing.
Vance stepped away and spoke into his shoulder radio again.
"Control, I need to speak with a supervisor."
"Stand by."
"I said I need a supervisor."
"Your request has been received. Maintain your position."
Vance's face reddened.
"Why am I being told to stand by?"
There was no immediate answer.
He lowered his hand and looked at Frank.
"Do you know what you're doing to me?"
Frank's voice remained quiet.
"I'm asking for my money back."
"You've turned a simple interaction into an investigation."
"No. You did that when you took the envelope."
Vance shook his head.
"You don't know anything about police procedure."
Frank looked at the uniform.
"I know that taking someone's property without a legitimate reason is not an inspection."
Vance's eyes narrowed.
"You think you're smarter than me?"
"No."
"Then stop acting like you are."
Frank looked directly at him.
"I am not trying to be smarter than you. I am trying to get home with the money I worked for."
For a moment, Vance had nothing to say.
The communication device crackled again.
"Frank, we have an update."
Frank pressed the button.
"Go ahead."
"We have completed the first stage of the serial-number comparison. Several numbers are consistent with the banknote information you provided."
Vance's expression changed immediately.
He looked down at the front of his vest.
Frank continued listening.
"Can you confirm the complete list?"
"We are completing the remaining checks. A verification team is reviewing the records now."
"Understood."
"Frank, are you still injured?"
"Yes. My shoulder and hip are hurting."
"Medical personnel are being dispatched. Please remain still."
Frank released the button.
Vance took another step backward.
He looked as though he wanted to say something, but every possible explanation seemed to create another problem.
Karen noticed his movement.
"You're scared now, aren't you?"
Vance turned toward her.
"Don't speak to me."
"You weren't scared when you pushed him."
"Enough!"
The officer's shout echoed across the platform.
A few passengers turned around.
Frank looked at Vance.
"Lower your voice."
The officer stared at him.
"Don't tell me what to do."
"I'm not giving you an order. I'm asking you to stop frightening everyone."
Vance shook his head.
"You have no idea what you're involved in."
Frank's eyes remained steady.
"Neither did I when you first stopped me."
The radio crackled again, this time with a different voice.
"Officer Vance, this is Sergeant Lewis. Confirm your current position."
Vance quickly lifted his hand.
"Sergeant, I'm at the central platform."
"Is the individual named Frank Miller still present?"
"Yes."
"Is he injured?"
Vance hesitated.
"He fell during the interaction."
"Did you request medical assistance?"
"Dispatch is handling that."
"Is the pension envelope still in your possession?"
Vance went silent.
The question seemed to hit him harder than the others.
He glanced at Frank, then toward the passengers.
"Sergeant, I need to explain the circumstances."
"Answer the question."
Vance swallowed.
"Yes."
"Do you still have the envelope?"
A pause followed.
"Yes."
"Do not remove it, open it, transfer it, or dispose of anything. Maintain your position until supervisory personnel arrive."