Chapter 3: The De-escalation
Marcus stepped between Piaimitten and Maya, placing a protective hand on his daughter’s shoulder. He gently retrieved his credentials and Maya’s backpack. "Officer, profiling a teenager in an empty garage and physically pinning her without cause is not procedure," Marcus said, his voice calm, low, and laced with steel. Piaimitten stammered an excuse about recent garage break-ins, but the presence of three federal agents standing behind Marcus silenced his defenses. Marcus turned his full attention to Maya, checking her wrists for bruises. "Are you okay, sweetheart?" She nodded quietly, slipping her hand into his.
