The officer had built his entire position around the assumption that the badge was false.
He had not checked it.
He had not contacted anyone who could authenticate it.
He had not allowed Cross to complete a full explanation before turning the disagreement into a physical confrontation.
And now, with Brooks watching and Parker holding his notebook, he had begun to understand that the next decision could matter far more than the first.
Cross lifted his chin slightly. A thin trace of blood remained beneath his nose, and the handcuffs still circled his wrists.
His voice was quiet when he spoke again.
"You have one simple way to settle this."
Kane's jaw tightened.
"Don't tell me what to do."
"Then make the call."
The officer stared at him.
Cross did not look away.
"Verify my credentials," he said. "Find out who I am before you decide what else you're going to accuse me of."
Kane's gaze dropped briefly toward the gold badge.
For the first time since the confrontation began, he did not immediately answer.
Kane's gaze remained fixed on the gold badge for several seconds. The object was small enough to fit inside a wallet, yet it had become the center of a confrontation that was rapidly slipping beyond his control.
He could feel Brooks watching him. Parker had stopped pretending to be occupied with anything else. Even the silence seemed to be waiting for his next decision.
Kane finally looked away.
"Fine," he said, with the reluctant tone of a man agreeing to something he intended to discredit. "You want us to make a phone call? Make your phone call."
Brooks did not respond to the sarcasm. She reached for the desk phone near the end of the conference table and began looking for the appropriate contact number. Her movements were controlled, but her expression revealed how seriously she regarded the situation.
Cross watched her dial.
He had no reason to celebrate. A request for verification should never have required a confrontation, and a routine identification check should certainly not have resulted in a punch. Even if the call established his identity within seconds, it would not erase what had already happened in that room.
Kane seemed to be counting on exactly that distinction.
He folded his arms across his chest and leaned against the edge of the table, attempting to make his posture appear relaxed. The gesture did little to hide the tension in his shoulders.
"Let's see how convincing this story is," he muttered.
Brooks raised one finger, signaling that she needed quiet while the call connected.
A series of tones sounded through the receiver. She checked the number again, then waited. When someone answered, she identified herself, gave the name of the station, and explained that she needed to verify the credentials of an individual being held there.
She avoided unnecessary details at first. Her priority was to establish a legitimate channel of communication and confirm the procedure for authenticating the badge.
Kane listened with an expression of exaggerated impatience.
"Tell them he claims to be a federal agent," he said loudly enough for the person on the other end to hear.
Brooks covered the receiver.
"I can explain the situation myself."
"I'm just making sure they understand what they're dealing with."
"Then let me finish."
She returned to the call.
Cross remained beside the chair, his wrists cuffed in front of him. The blood beneath his nose had begun to dry, leaving a narrow red mark against his skin. He resisted the urge to touch the injury again. There was no benefit in giving Kane another opportunity to accuse him of moving unpredictably.
Parker shifted his position near the door.
"Should we get medical assistance?" he asked.
Kane answered before Cross could.
"It's a little blood. He's fine."
Parker looked at the injured man.
"That isn't what I asked."
Kane pushed himself away from the table.
"Are you questioning me now, too?"
"I'm asking whether we should have someone look at an injury that happened in this room."
Brooks turned slightly while keeping the receiver against her ear.
"Arrange for medical staff to assess him," she said. "And make sure the request is recorded."
Kane stared at her.
"You are making this much bigger than it needs to be."
"No, Victor. We're documenting what happened."