"No."
He turned around slowly.
"What did you say?"
"I said no."
For the first time, her voice carried no hint of uncertainty.
Daniel stared at her, apparently unable to believe that a handcuffed woman he had accused of drug possession was refusing a direct command.
"You are under arrest."
"I know what you told me."
"Then get in the vehicle."
"Take me to the station. Call your supervisor. Record the entire process. If you believe you have evidence against me, present it through the proper channels."
His jaw tightened.
"You think you can dictate the terms?"
"No. I think you know the difference between an arrest and an abduction."
The word landed heavily between them.
Daniel glanced toward the open lot, then back at her.
"Don't use words you don't understand."
"I understand them perfectly."
He stepped forward, attempting to take her by the arm again.
Emily shifted her weight just enough to prevent him from pulling her off balance. The movement was small, almost invisible, but Daniel felt the resistance and stopped.
He looked down at her feet, then back at her face.
Something about the way she had moved disturbed him.
She had not stumbled. She had not panicked. She had adjusted her position with the ease of someone who knew exactly where her balance was and how much force was required to maintain it.
Daniel had expected a frightened civilian.
Instead, he was beginning to suspect that he had misjudged the person standing in front of him.
"Where did you learn to move like that?" he asked.
Emily tilted her head.
"Move like what?"
"You know what I mean."
"I've been walking since I was a child."
"Don't be clever."
"Then ask a better question."
He stepped away from her and ran a hand over his hair.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Emily used the silence to study the area. The service road beyond the fence offered a possible route back toward the main street. A security camera was mounted above the loading entrance of the commercial building. Another camera appeared to be attached to a light pole near the far corner of the lot.
If the cameras were operational, they might have recorded the cruiser entering the property and Daniel removing her from the vehicle. She made a mental note of their positions.
Daniel noticed her looking.
"What are you staring at?"
"Your surroundings."
"Why?"
"Because you brought me here."
He followed her gaze toward the cameras.
His expression changed again.
"You don't know what you're involved in."
Emily returned her attention to him.
"Then tell me."
He shook his head.
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because you wouldn't understand."
"Try me."
Daniel laughed without humor.
"You think this is about one packet? You think it's about one arrest?"
Emily did not respond, but her attention sharpened.
He had volunteered information without being asked.
Daniel seemed to realize it almost immediately. He looked away, swallowed, and took a slow breath.
"Forget I said that."
"That's not how evidence works."
"You're not a lawyer."
"No. But I know when someone is trying to hide something."
He glared at her.
"You don't know anything."
"Then you have nothing to worry about."
The answer appeared to frustrate him more than an argument would have. He wanted her to become frightened, to plead, to offer information in exchange for leniency. Her composure left him with no obvious way to regain control of the conversation.
He took out his phone again.
This time, he did not move far away.
Emily watched him type a short message, then stop. He looked at the screen for several seconds before deleting what he had written and trying again.
His fingers were trembling slightly.
The sight confirmed that he was under pressure.
Someone was expecting an outcome from him, and the encounter was not unfolding as planned.
A new notification appeared on his phone.
Daniel read it.
His expression went rigid.
He looked up at Emily, then back at the message.
"What did you tell them?" he demanded.
Emily frowned.
"Who?"
"Don't play innocent!"
"I haven't spoken to anyone."
"You're lying."
"You're the one holding the phone."
He took a step toward her.
"Someone knows you're here."
Emily remained still.
"Then perhaps someone should come and explain why."
Daniel's eyes narrowed.
"You have no idea what you're asking for."
"Apparently, neither do you."
He looked at the screen again. Whatever the message said, it had changed his behavior. He no longer seemed certain that keeping Emily away from the station was the safest option.