Tyler’s face split into a grotesque, wide-eyed grin. He shoved the cash closer to his face, sniffing the paper as if it were fine wine.
"What matters is..." Tyler whispered, his voice rising in an ecstatic pitch, "...there's money. Oh, look at this. Cash talks, old man."
Arthur stared at him in utter disbelief. "You can't just take that! That’s grand larceny! Give me my wallet back right now!"
"Larceny?" Tyler laughed aloud, a sharp, barking sound that caused two other junior officers standing nearby to turn and look. "In my jurisdiction, grandfather, unregistered cash found near a secured municipal perimeter is suspected contraband linked to illicit activities. I’m seizing this under civil asset forfeiture. Consider it a fine for stupidity."
Tyler pocketed the thick wad of cash into his own utility belt pocket, tossing the empty leather wallet onto the hood of the car with a hollow thud. He strutted away a few paces, counting the bills with obsessive glee, completely blind to the cold trap closing in around him.
Arthur stood frozen for a moment, his chest heaving with cold fury. He looked at the other two officers standing by the cruiser. They looked away, avoiding his gaze, complicit through their cowardly silence. Tyler was their senior officer on duty, a notorious bully whom nobody dared to cross.
Realizing arguing with a thief in uniform was useless, Arthur reached into his pants pocket, pulled out his smartphone, and tapped the screen. He pressed it to his ear, stepping a few feet away from Tyler, who was still busy counting his stolen loot under the flashing red and blue lights.
"Put me through to the precinct captain," Arthur spoke into the phone, his voice dropping its trembling tone, replaced by an icy, steel-calibrated clarity that caught the wind. "No, skip the desk sergeant. Transfer this call directly to Federal Task Force Direct Line... Badge 8814. Tell them Arthur Pendelton is on the line."
Ten feet away, Tyler caught wind of the phone call and snorted derisively. He sauntered back, twirling his baton lazily.
"Ooh, look at him! He’s calling his lawyer! Or maybe the President?" Tyler mocked, loud enough for his buddies to chuckle. "Go ahead, old man. Tell them the police department just confiscated your drug money. See who answers!"