DANIEL COLE: I don't need to verify anything.
Gabriel shifted uncomfortably.
GABRIEL ORTIZ: Dan, I was just calling the evidence supervisor.
DANIEL COLE: I wasn't talking to you.
Daniel stepped closer to Claire.
DANIEL COLE: Let me see what you've got there.
CLAIRE BENNETT: The authorization documents?
DANIEL COLE: Your identification.
Claire opened her wallet and presented the credentials.
DANIEL COLE: So you're telling me you're a federal agent?
CLAIRE BENNETT: Yes.
DANIEL COLE: And you think that gives you permission to walk into our department and start looking through confidential records?
CLAIRE BENNETT: The records are covered by the federal cooperation agreement.
DANIEL COLE: Those are police records.
CLAIRE BENNETT: They are joint task-force records. Federal oversight is explicitly included in the agreement.
Daniel gave a short laugh.
He glanced toward the other officers.
Two patrolmen had stopped their conversation.
A detective near the printer was watching.
Daniel seemed to become more aggressive when he realized that several people were observing the exchange.
DANIEL COLE: You know, I've been working in this department for eleven years. I know how these inspections work.
CLAIRE BENNETT: Then you should have no difficulty verifying my authorization.
DANIEL COLE: Don't tell me how to do my job.
CLAIRE BENNETT: I'm not. I'm explaining the legal basis for my visit.
DANIEL COLE: You need to stop acting like you own this place.
Claire remained calm.
She had learned long ago that people who depended on intimidation often became more reckless when their tactics failed.
DANIEL COLE: What's your name again?
CLAIRE BENNETT: Special Agent Claire Bennett.
DANIEL COLE: I didn't ask for your title.
CLAIRE BENNETT: Then my name is Claire Bennett.
Daniel looked at her identification.
He reached forward and took the wallet from her hand.
Claire immediately turned toward him.
CLAIRE BENNETT: Keep your hands off me and return my credentials.
Daniel did not release the wallet.
Instead, he stepped closer and placed his other hand against her upper arm.
The movement was sudden.
Claire's shoulder shifted slightly under his grip.
GABRIEL ORTIZ: Dan, let her go.
Daniel ignored him.
DANIEL COLE: You're going to listen to me before you start ordering people around.
Claire looked down at his hand.
Then she raised her eyes to meet his.
CLAIRE BENNETT: Remove your hand.
Her voice was controlled.
There was no shouting.
No panic.
But the seriousness in her expression was unmistakable.
Daniel released her arm with a dismissive movement.
He continued holding the identification wallet.
DANIEL COLE: You don't get to walk in here and tell me what to do.
CLAIRE BENNETT: You have my identification. You have seen the federal seal. Now return it.
Daniel opened the wallet.
He examined the photograph.
The official badge.
The federal identification number.
For a brief moment, his expression changed.
He recognized that the credentials were genuine.
But admitting that would mean acknowledging that he had been wrong.
And in front of the people watching, he was unwilling to do that.
DANIEL COLE: I've seen better-looking identification cards at a costume store.
CLAIRE BENNETT: The number is printed beneath the photograph. You can verify it through the federal directory.
DANIEL COLE: I don't need to verify anything.
CLAIRE BENNETT: Then you are deliberately refusing to follow the verification procedure.
Daniel raised the wallet.
He turned it toward the nearby officers as though presenting an object for public inspection.
DANIEL COLE: Everybody take a look. Apparently, we're dealing with someone important today.
Nobody laughed.
Gabriel looked increasingly uncomfortable.
GABRIEL ORTIZ: Dan, seriously. Give it back.
DANIEL COLE: Stay out of it.
Claire extended her hand.
CLAIRE BENNETT: Officer Cole, return my identification immediately.
Daniel looked at her.
A small, arrogant smile appeared on his face.
DANIEL COLE: You really think that little badge gives you authority over me?
CLAIRE BENNETT: It establishes my official position and the authority under which I am conducting this inspection.
DANIEL COLE: Well, I'm not impressed.
He lifted the wallet higher.
Claire remained motionless.
She was watching him carefully.
She also noticed the security camera above the entrance to the operations room.
Its red recording light was illuminated.
Every movement was being recorded.
DANIEL COLE: Maybe you should learn how things work around here.
CLAIRE BENNETT: I suggest you think carefully about what you're doing.
DANIEL COLE: Or what?
CLAIRE BENNETT: You are holding official federal credentials without authorization and interfering with a documented inspection.