Thomas stepped directly in front of him.
Thomas Reed: "You think wearing that uniform gives you authority around here?"
Marcus looked down briefly at the officer's nameplate.
Then he raised his eyes.
Marcus Harris: "I think you should be careful about how you're treating people."
Thomas's expression changed.
He reached forward and grabbed the front of Marcus's uniform near the chest.
The sudden movement surprised Marcus.
His briefcase remained beside the reception counter.
Sarah immediately stopped typing.
Thomas tightened his grip and pulled Marcus slightly toward him.
Thomas Reed: "You don't tell me how to do my job!"
Marcus looked down at the hand gripping his uniform.
His expression became serious.
Marcus Harris: "Take your hands off me."
Thomas ignored the warning.
He moved closer, his face showing open hostility.
Thomas Reed: "You need to learn some respect."
Marcus attempted to move his arm away from Thomas's grip.
The officer interpreted the movement as resistance.
Without giving Marcus another opportunity to respond, Thomas suddenly released his uniform and threw a powerful punch toward his face.
The impact was immediate.
Marcus's head turned sharply to one side.
His body lost balance, and he stumbled backward.
For a brief moment, he attempted to steady himself.
But before he could regain his footing, he fell heavily onto the grey tiled floor.
His black leather briefcase shifted beside the reception counter.
The sudden impact echoed throughout the lobby.
Sarah stood up so quickly that her chair moved backward.
A nearby employee turned toward the noise.
Thomas remained standing above Marcus, breathing heavily.
Marcus lay on the floor, visibly stunned.
He slowly raised one hand toward his face.
A small trace of blood appeared near the corner of his lower lip.
For several seconds, he did not move.
He was trying to understand how an ordinary conversation had turned into an unprovoked physical attack.
Thomas looked down at him.
Instead of showing concern, the officer appeared irritated that Marcus had not immediately stood up.
Thomas Reed: "Stay down! You hear me?"
Sarah stared at the scene in disbelief.
Sarah Miller: "Thomas! What are you doing?"
Thomas turned toward her.
Thomas Reed: "Stay out of this!"
Sarah stepped away from her computer.
Sarah Miller: "You just hit him!"
Thomas pointed toward Marcus.
Thomas Reed: "He was refusing to cooperate."
Sarah looked at Marcus again.
She could see that he was injured.
His uniform had become disordered, and his briefcase was lying near the counter.
Sarah knew that whatever disagreement had taken place, there was no justification for treating someone that way.
But Thomas appeared completely unconcerned.
He looked down at Marcus again.
Thomas Reed: "You should have listened when I told you to leave."
Marcus slowly turned his head.
He looked at Thomas with an expression of disbelief.
He had entered the station expecting to meet his new colleagues.
Instead, he had been attacked by an officer who had not even bothered to ask for his identification.
Marcus placed one hand against the floor and began pushing himself upward.
His movements were careful.
He briefly touched his lower lip, then looked at the blood on his fingertips.
Thomas watched him.
Thomas Reed: "I said stay down."
Marcus ignored him.
He reached toward his black leather briefcase and pulled it closer.
His eyes remained fixed on Thomas.
Marcus Harris: "You have no idea what you've just done."
Thomas laughed.
Thomas Reed: "I don't care who you are."
Marcus slowly rose to one knee.
Then he placed one foot firmly on the floor and pushed himself upright.
He was still holding his briefcase.
His expression had changed completely.
The surprise was disappearing.
In its place was a cold, controlled determination.
Sarah continued watching from behind the counter.
She had seen enough to understand that something terrible had happened.
But she also noticed something unusual about the man Thomas had attacked.
Despite being struck and knocked to the floor, Marcus was not shouting.
He was not threatening anyone.
He was not behaving like someone trying to escape an arrest.
He simply stood there, looking at Thomas as though he were carefully memorizing every detail of the encounter.
Thomas adjusted his uniform.
Thomas Reed: "Now get out of here before I make things worse."
Marcus did not answer immediately.
He straightened the front of his jacket and adjusted the position of his collar.
Then he looked at the officer's nameplate.
Thomas Reed.
He memorized it.
Marcus Harris: "Thomas Reed. Is that your name?"
Thomas frowned.
Thomas Reed: "You already know my name. It's right here."
Marcus nodded slightly.
Marcus Harris: "Good. I won't have any difficulty identifying you later."
Thomas gave another arrogant laugh.
Thomas Reed: "You think you're going to report me?"
Marcus remained silent.
Thomas stepped closer.