The two police officers chuckled, shaking their heads as they stepped back, completely relieved that the entire situation was just a wild misunderstanding. Sam looked at the mugshot on the phone one last time, rubbing his own jawline with a genuine smile. “Well, I suppose I should take it as a compliment that you think I look like a rugged billionaire action star, Nicole,” Sam joked. “Honestly, it is a pretty wild resemblance, so I can’t completely blame you for doing a double-take.”
The station manager smiled warmly, though his expression turned slightly serious as he stepped in. “Your heart was technically in the right place, Nicole, but you cannot exploit your authority to exact personal revenge in the cabin. You are getting a formal warning for this protocol violation, but we will handle it strictly as an internal counseling session.”
Turning to Sam, the manager handed over a fresh ticket. “And for you, Detective—first class to Nashville, on us. Safe travels home, sir.”