It was connected to the same file that Robert had been reviewing.
Daniel Brooks: "Where did you get that?"
Victor Hayes: "It doesn't matter."
Daniel Brooks: "Why are you showing me this?"
Victor placed the document on the table.
Victor Hayes: "Because I want you to remember that there are people involved in this situation who have much more to lose than either of us."
Daniel stared at the document.
For several seconds, he did not move.
Then he noticed something written on the back.
A handwritten note.
It contained a date.
A payment amount.
And the initials of someone who had not yet been mentioned in the investigation.
Daniel slowly raised his eyes.
Daniel Brooks: "Who is this person?"
Victor did not answer.
Daniel Brooks: "Victor, who is this?"
Victor leaned closer.
Victor Hayes: "Someone you should never mention unless you have absolute proof."
At that exact moment, Robert's voice came through the conference room intercom.
Captain Robert Mitchell: "Officer Brooks, Mr. Hayes, remain in the room. An independent investigator is on the way."
Victor quickly took the document from the table.
But Daniel had already memorized the name written on it.
And for the first time, he began to understand that the person he had been protecting might have been using him from the very beginning.
The conference room had become unusually quiet.
Daniel Brooks sat motionless, staring at the document Victor Hayes had briefly shown him.
The name written on the back of the paper continued to occupy his thoughts.
He had spent the entire morning believing that Victor would protect him.
Now he was beginning to understand that he might have been nothing more than a convenient person to take the blame.
Victor, meanwhile, was trying to maintain his composure.
He placed the document inside his briefcase and looked toward the conference room door.
Neither man spoke.
A few minutes later, Captain Robert Mitchell entered with two independent investigators.
One was a woman named Amanda Foster, who worked in the courthouse compliance department.
The other was an investigator named Thomas Reed, responsible for examining allegations involving employees and administrative misconduct.
Amanda Foster: "Good afternoon, gentlemen. My name is Amanda Foster. We have been asked to conduct an independent review of the incident involving Emily Carter."
Victor Hayes: "I understand."
Daniel Brooks: "Yes, ma'am."
Thomas Reed placed a recording device on the table.
Thomas Reed: "Before we begin, I want to make it clear that this interview will be documented. We need accurate answers, and we expect everyone to cooperate."
Robert remained standing near the window.
Captain Robert Mitchell: "I've already provided the security footage, witness information, appointment records, and the documents recovered from Ms. Carter's folder."
Amanda opened her notebook.
Amanda Foster: "Thank you, Captain. We will review each item independently."
She turned toward Daniel.
Amanda Foster: "Officer Brooks, let's begin with the physical confrontation. Why did you make contact with Ms. Carter?"
Daniel looked down.
Daniel Brooks: "I believed she was refusing to cooperate with a security instruction."
Amanda Foster: "What instruction?"
Daniel Brooks: "I asked her to put down her documents."
Amanda Foster: "And did she threaten you?"
Daniel Brooks: "No."
Amanda Foster: "Did she attempt to strike you?"
Daniel Brooks: "No."
Amanda Foster: "Did she attempt to damage courthouse property?"
Daniel Brooks: "No."
Amanda closed her notebook briefly.
Amanda Foster: "Then what immediate danger did you believe required physical force?"
Daniel hesitated.
Daniel Brooks: "I don't believe there was an immediate danger."
The answer surprised Victor.
He turned toward Daniel.
Victor Hayes: "You need to be careful about how you describe what happened."
Thomas Reed immediately looked at him.
Thomas Reed: "Mr. Hayes, please allow the officer to answer his own questions."
Victor leaned back.
Daniel swallowed.
Amanda Foster: "Officer Brooks, did anyone instruct you to prevent Ms. Carter from entering the administrative department?"
Daniel looked toward Victor.
For several seconds, he seemed unable to decide what to say.
Then he finally spoke.
Daniel Brooks: "Mr. Hayes spoke to me before she arrived."
Amanda Foster: "What did he tell you?"
Daniel Brooks: "He said a visitor was coming with documents connected to a restricted administrative matter."
Amanda Foster: "Did he tell you to stop her?"
Daniel Brooks: "He said I should make sure she didn't enter the records department until the matter was cleared."
Victor immediately interrupted.
Victor Hayes: "That is not what I said."
Thomas Reed: "Mr. Hayes, you will have an opportunity to provide your own statement."
Daniel continued.
Daniel Brooks: "He showed me a notification and said the appointment wasn't fully authorized."
Amanda Foster: "Did you verify that information?"
Daniel Brooks: "No."
Amanda Foster: "Why not?"
Daniel looked uncomfortable.
Daniel Brooks: "I trusted what he told me."
Amanda Foster: "And when Ms. Carter attempted to explain that she had an appointment, what did you do?"
Daniel lowered his eyes.
Daniel Brooks: "I lost my temper."
Amanda waited.
Daniel Brooks: "I shouldn't have touched her."
The room became silent.
It was the first time Daniel had openly acknowledged his responsibility.
But Amanda was not finished.
Amanda Foster: "Did Mr. Hayes instruct you to use physical force?"
Daniel Brooks: "No."
Amanda Foster: "Did he instruct you to intimidate her?"
Daniel hesitated.
Daniel Brooks: "He told me to make sure she didn't get past the reception area."
Victor leaned forward.
Victor Hayes: "That's a complete misrepresentation."
Thomas Reed: "We will review the evidence."
Amanda turned to Victor.
Amanda Foster: "Mr. Hayes, we would now like to hear your explanation."
Victor straightened his jacket.
Victor Hayes: "I was responsible for maintaining administrative procedures. The documents Ms. Carter carried related to a sensitive internal matter. I simply wanted to ensure that the correct authorization was in place."