But this time, the situation was different.
They had watched the entire incident.
They had seen the sheriff approach a man who was quietly eating ice cream.
They had seen him take the cup, throw it into Jamal's face, and punch him hard enough to knock him onto the floor.
There was no complicated explanation for what they had witnessed.
It had happened in front of them.
Jamal slowly stood up, using the booth for support.
Brooks instinctively moved as though he wanted to help, but Hayes raised one hand.
SHERIFF HAYES: "Stay where you are."
Jamal looked at the sheriff.
JAMAL: "I'm standing up. Is that a problem too?"
SHERIFF HAYES: "Don't test me."
JAMAL: "You already tested me."
For a moment, Hayes appeared ready to respond physically again.
But the badge in his hand stopped him.
He looked at the gold emblem and then at Jamal's face.
The sheriff finally understood that he could no longer treat the situation as an ordinary encounter with a stranger.
He needed to know exactly who Jamal was.
And he needed to know whether anyone else would soon hear about what had happened inside the diner.
SHERIFF HAYES: "What's your full name?"
JAMAL: "Jamal Carter."
SHERIFF HAYES: "And what exactly do you do?"
JAMAL: "I'm a federal judge."
The answer fell into the room with a weight that seemed to change the atmosphere immediately.
The waitress covered her mouth.
One of the customers slowly lowered his coffee cup.
Brooks looked at Jamal again, this time with a mixture of surprise and concern.
Hayes stared at him.
SHERIFF HAYES: "A federal judge?"
JAMAL: "Yes."
SHERIFF HAYES: "You expect me to believe that?"
JAMAL: "You have my identification in your hand. You can verify it."
Hayes looked at the badge again.
He had expected an argument.
He had expected an angry customer.
He had expected someone who would eventually become frightened and apologize.
He had not expected a federal judge.
The sheriff's face tightened as he considered the consequences.
JAMAL: "I was traveling through the county. I stopped here to eat. I didn't approach you, threaten you, or interfere with your work."
SHERIFF HAYES: "Then why didn't you say who you were when I walked in?"
Jamal stared at him.
JAMAL: "Because I shouldn't have to introduce myself as a federal judge to receive basic respect."
The words made Brooks look down.
Jamal continued.
JAMAL: "A person shouldn't need a government badge, a title, or an important position to be treated fairly. You should have treated me the same way you would treat anyone else sitting in this restaurant."
Hayes said nothing.
JAMAL: "You saw a Black man eating ice cream and decided you could humiliate him. You didn't ask a reasonable question. You didn't explain why you were approaching me. You simply took my food and threw it in my face."
He paused, touching the area beneath his nose.
JAMAL: "Then you punched me."
The sheriff shifted his weight.
SHERIFF HAYES: "You were being disrespectful."
JAMAL: "Disrespectful?"
SHERIFF HAYES: "You refused to cooperate."
JAMAL: "Cooperate with what? You never told me what I was suspected of doing."
SHERIFF HAYES: "I had reasons to question you."
JAMAL: "What reasons?"
Hayes did not answer.
Jamal looked toward Deputy Brooks.
JAMAL: "Deputy, did you hear him identify a specific offense?"
Brooks hesitated.
DEPUTY BROOKS: "No, sir."
Hayes immediately turned toward him.
SHERIFF HAYES: "Watch what you say."
Brooks swallowed.
DEPUTY BROOKS: "I didn't hear him identify a specific offense."
The sheriff's face darkened.
SHERIFF HAYES: "You want to make this difficult for yourself?"
DEPUTY BROOKS: "I'm answering the question."
Jamal watched the younger officer.
He could see that Brooks was frightened, but he had finally begun to acknowledge what had happened.
That mattered.
The truth did not become less important simply because speaking it was uncomfortable.
JAMAL: "Thank you, Deputy."
Hayes stepped between them.
SHERIFF HAYES: "Don't start acting like you're in charge here."
JAMAL: "I'm not trying to take your position. I'm asking you to respect the law."
SHERIFF HAYES: "You keep talking about the law."
JAMAL: "Because that's what your badge represents."
Hayes looked down at his own gold sheriff's badge.
For years, it had been a symbol of power in Randolph County. People moved out of his way when he entered a room. They lowered their voices when he approached. Some residents had learned to agree with him even when they knew he was wrong.
But Jamal was looking at the badge differently.
To him, it represented a public responsibility.
It was not permission to intimidate people.
It was not a license to use violence.
And it certainly was not an excuse to ignore constitutional protections.
Jamal extended his hand.
JAMAL: "I'd like my identification and wallet returned."