"Whose is it?"
"I don't know."
"Then why are you standing next to it?"
David didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he reached into his front pocket.
Jessica's hand snapped toward her weapon.
"Don't!"
David froze.
"Easy."
"Hands up!"
He slowly raised both hands.
"I was reaching for my phone."
"Don't reach for anything!"
David looked at her.
Then, very carefully, he lowered his right hand.
"All right."
The silence returned.
A faint breeze moved through the parking lot.
Jessica's radio suddenly crackled.
"Unit Twelve, respond."
She pressed the button.
"Unit Twelve. Go ahead."
A male dispatcher answered.
"Officer Miller, we have a request for a status update regarding your location."
Jessica frowned.
"What's the nature of the request?"
There was a short pause.
"Stand by."
Jessica glanced at David.
He was watching her.
The dispatcher returned.
"Officer, do you currently have contact with an individual named David Morgan?"
Jessica's expression tightened.
She looked at the man standing in front of her.
"Affirmative. Why?"
The radio remained silent for two seconds.
Then the dispatcher spoke again.
"Stand by. A supervisor is requesting to speak with you."
Jessica frowned.
"What's this about?"
The dispatcher lowered his voice.
"Officer Miller, I'm not sure. But you need to remain where you are."
David quietly looked down at the black bag.
Then he said something that made Jessica turn toward him.
"Now you understand why I wanted your camera recording."
THE NAME ON THE RADIO
Jessica pressed the radio again.
"Dispatch, identify the supervisor."
"Lieutenant Harris."
"Put him through."
A different voice came over the speaker.
"Officer Miller?"
"Yes, Lieutenant."
"Are you currently with David Morgan?"
"Yes."
"Where exactly?"
Jessica gave the location.
There was a pause.
Then the lieutenant asked:
"Is he carrying anything?"
Jessica glanced at the black bag.
"One large black trash bag containing an unidentified metal object."
The lieutenant's tone changed immediately.
"Do not touch that bag."
Jessica frowned.
"Sir?"
"I said do not touch it."
"Lieutenant, I have the situation under control."
"Officer Miller, listen to me carefully."
His voice became firm.
"Do not open the bag. Do not move it. Do not attempt to search it."
Jessica looked at David again.
He stood perfectly still.
"Why?"
The lieutenant didn't answer.
Instead, he asked another question.
"Has Mr. Morgan identified himself?"
"Yes."
"Did he provide any identification?"
"No."
"Then don't ask him to do anything else until I arrive."
Jessica's frustration became visible.
"Lieutenant, with all due respect, I'm standing here with a suspicious individual carrying an unidentified object. I need to know what I'm dealing with."
The response came immediately.
"You're dealing with someone whose name should have been explained to you before you approached him."
Jessica froze.
"What does that mean?"