She reached for her phone, meaning to turn on the camera, more out of habit than fear. Before she could even unlock the screen, the second officer yanked her door open and grabbed her wrist.
“Put the phone away. Now.”
“Don’t touch me,” Victoria said, sharp now, no longer calm exactly but not panicked either — just firm, the voice of someone who knew precisely what was happening and precisely how far outside the law it had already gone. “You are exceeding your authority.”
That was the wrong thing to say to men like this. Or maybe it was the only thing that could have been said, because it was true, and true things have a way of making certain people furious.
The tall one moved fast. He grabbed her by the arm, hauled her out of the car, and spun her around, pressing her front-first against the door. She felt the cold metal against her cheek, heard her own breath go short and quick despite herself.
