I looked at the crowd and said evenly, "Officer, they blocked my door, wouldn't let me leave for work, and demanded $100,000 in compensation."
Mrs. Lawrence fired back instantly. "Lies! When did I ever ask for money? We're just here to reason with you! What proof do you have?"
I raised my phone and hit play.
"...Hurry up and apologize to my sister and my nephew, then pay $100,000 for emotional damages!"
"...If you don't cough up $100,000 today, you're getting your ass beat!"
The recording rang out crystal clear in the hallway.
Mrs. Lawrence and the thugs went through about five different shades of pale.
The lead officer's face hardened. "Anything else to say? Take them all in."
Mrs. Lawrence panicked. "My cousin is Leon Chavez! You can't arrest me!"
The officer let out a cold laugh. "Leon Chavez? He just got reassigned to janitorial duty. You need him for something?"
Mrs. Lawrence went slack-jawed.
Two officers hauled her up, but she kept thrashing and screaming.
Josh was terrified. He tried to bolt, but another officer pinned him with one hand.
"Officer, this has nothing to do with me—my mom made me come!"
I watched the whole circus without feeling a thing.