Victoria was driving home on a quiet rural highway one afternoon.
Under the limit. Indicating. Watching her mirrors.
The sun was out, there was almost nothing else on the road, and it was as ordinary a drive as a person can have.
A few miles in she noticed a patrol car behind her. A minute later the lights went on and they waved her onto the shoulder.
She pulled over at once, switched off the engine, and lowered her window.
A broad-shouldered officer with a hard face walked up to the car. His partner stayed a few feet back, watching her.
“Licence and registration. Now.”
She handed them over.
He looked at them for a long time. He walked all the way around the car. He came back to the window.
He had found nothing. He kept her documents anyway.
“Officer, could you tell me why I’ve been stopped?”
“Routine traffic check.”
“Checking for what? I haven’t done anything wrong, and neither of you has told me your name.”
His jaw tightened. He had clearly expected her to sit there and say nothing.
“Oh, we’ve got a smart one,” said the partner, coming up. “Close your mouth and do what you’re told when an officer’s talking to you.”
Victoria looked from one to the other.
“I am doing what I’m told. But you’re being rude to me and you won’t tell me why I’m here. I’d like your identification and a lawful reason for this stop.”
The first officer slapped her documents down on the roof of the car.
“Out of the vehicle.”
“Why?”
“Because I said so.”
She understood exactly what was happening. She reached for her phone to record it.
The partner yanked the driver’s door open and took her by the arm.
“Put the phone down. Right now.”
“Let go of my arm. You have no right to do this.”
That made it worse.
The first officer pulled her out of the seat, turned her round, and pushed her against the side of the car. His partner took her wrists, twisted them behind her and cuffed them.
“Maybe a trip to the station’ll teach you some manners,” he said while he did it.
Victoria did not scream. She did not struggle.
She turned her head slightly and looked at both of them, steadily.
