Jenny gasped, holding her breath. Her plan to distract the officer had failed; instead, it seemed to make him angrier. She was unsure of his intentions or what might happen if she complied and opened the trunk. Yet, she also realized that not following his order could lead to even worse consequences. With this in mind, she silently nodded in agreement.
She needed to think fast. The officer’s request was unusual, and perhaps even unlawful without proper cause. Recalling what she had read about rights during police stops, she mustered all her courage. “Do you have a warrant or any probable cause to search my car?” she asked in a soft yet shaky tone, her voice trembling with fear, anxious about his potential response.