He could feel the situation slipping beyond his control.
The badge had created one problem.
The witnesses had created another.
And the dispatcher's request for federal confirmation suggested that the matter was already moving beyond the local sheriff's office.
Brooks stepped closer.
DEPUTY BROOKS: "Sheriff, I think we should preserve the scene and document what happened."
SHERIFF HAYES: "You think?"
DEPUTY BROOKS: "Yes, sir."
SHERIFF HAYES: "You want to write a report against me?"
DEPUTY BROOKS: "I'm saying we should document the entire incident."
SHERIFF HAYES: "Then write down that he became aggressive and refused to cooperate."
Jamal immediately looked at him.
JAMAL: "That would be a false report."
SHERIFF HAYES: "You don't know what happened from my perspective."
JAMAL: "I know exactly what happened from mine."
Martha stepped out from behind the counter.
MARTHA: "I can tell them what I saw."
Walter nodded.
WALTER: "So can I."
Another customer slowly raised his phone.
CUSTOMER: "I recorded part of it."
Hayes turned toward him.
SHERIFF HAYES: "You recorded what?"
CUSTOMER: "The part where you punched him."
The sheriff's face hardened.
SHERIFF HAYES: "Let me see that."
CUSTOMER: "Why?"
SHERIFF HAYES: "Because I asked you to."
JAMAL: "He doesn't have to hand over his phone simply because you demand it."
The customer held the device closer to his chest.
Hayes took a step forward, but Brooks moved slightly between them.
DEPUTY BROOKS: "Sheriff, let's not make this worse."
Hayes looked at the younger deputy.
For a moment, the two officers stood face to face.
The sheriff was clearly angry that Brooks had begun questioning his commands in front of the customers.
SHERIFF HAYES: "You seem to have forgotten who your supervisor is."
DEPUTY BROOKS: "I haven't forgotten."
SHERIFF HAYES: "Then act like it."
Brooks did not move.
The tension between them was becoming almost as intense as the confrontation with Jamal.
Jamal watched quietly.
He knew that the next few minutes would determine whether the deputy continued to follow the sheriff's instructions or finally chose to do what his position required.
He also knew that the badge alone would not resolve everything.
The truth needed to be recorded.
The witnesses needed to be heard.
And the sheriff's actions needed to be examined independently.
A person could not simply claim authority and expect that claim to excuse every decision.
Jamal reached into the inside pocket of his stained jacket.
Hayes immediately reacted.
SHERIFF HAYES: "What are you doing?"
JAMAL: "Getting my phone."
SHERIFF HAYES: "Don't reach for anything."
Jamal stopped.
JAMAL: "My phone is in my jacket."
SHERIFF HAYES: "Keep your hands where I can see them."
JAMAL: "You already have my identification. You know who I am. There is no reason to keep treating me like a threat."
Brooks looked at Hayes.
DEPUTY BROOKS: "Sheriff, let him get his phone."
Hayes hesitated.
Then, reluctantly, he stepped back.
Jamal carefully retrieved his phone.
The screen had a small crack near one corner, but it still worked.
He checked the time and looked at the notifications.
Several messages had arrived while he was inside the diner.
He had been expecting to contact someone earlier, but the confrontation had interrupted his plans.
He unlocked the phone.
Hayes watched him suspiciously.
SHERIFF HAYES: "Who are you calling?"
JAMAL: "Someone who needs to know what happened."
SHERIFF HAYES: "You're not calling anybody until we finish here."
JAMAL: "You cannot prevent me from contacting legal assistance."
SHERIFF HAYES: "I can tell you to put the phone away."
JAMAL: "You can tell me many things. That doesn't make them lawful."
The sheriff stepped forward again.
Brooks raised one hand.
DEPUTY BROOKS: "Sheriff, please."
The word "please" sounded unusually quiet in the diner.
But it carried a meaning that everyone understood.
Brooks was no longer simply watching.
He was trying to prevent another physical confrontation.
Hayes glared at him.
SHERIFF HAYES: "Move."
Brooks did not immediately respond.
The sheriff looked around the room.
Every customer was watching.
The waitress was still standing near the counter.
Walter remained beside his booth.
The customer with the phone continued recording.
And Jamal, despite the pain in his face, was calmly holding his phone.
The sheriff realized that he could not easily repeat what he had done earlier.
Not without creating an even more damaging situation.
Jamal looked at the screen.
He selected a contact and began making a call.
The phone rang.
Once.
Twice.
Then someone answered.
JAMAL: "It's Jamal. I need you to listen carefully."
He paused, glancing toward Hayes.
JAMAL: "I'm at a diner in Randolph County. I've been assaulted by the county sheriff. My identification has been taken, my belongings have been searched, and there are several witnesses."
Hayes's eyes narrowed.
Jamal continued.
JAMAL: "Yes. I am safe for the moment, but I need this documented immediately."