Daniel Brooks: "Professionally? You were the one who told me to make sure she didn't get access to those files."
Victor's words changed the atmosphere in the room.
Victor looked at him sharply.
Victor Hayes: "I never told you to touch her."
Daniel Brooks: "You told me she wasn't supposed to be here."
Victor Hayes: "I told you to verify her documents."
Daniel Brooks: "You knew what those documents were about."
Victor stood up.
Victor Hayes: "That's enough."
Daniel Brooks: "You can't leave me to deal with this alone."
Victor Hayes: "Nobody is leaving you to deal with anything. You are an officer. You made a decision, and now you need to answer for it."
Daniel shook his head.
Daniel Brooks: "You know why I stopped her."
Victor Hayes: "Be careful what you say."
Daniel looked at him for several seconds.
Then he walked toward the door.
Daniel Brooks: "If this investigation goes further, I'm telling them everything."
Victor's expression became noticeably colder.
Victor Hayes: "Think very carefully before you do that."
Daniel left.
Victor remained standing beside his desk.
He looked toward the closed door, then toward the cabinet behind him.
There was a thick file inside.
He opened the cabinet and pulled it out.
The label on the front contained the name of a department and a reference number.
Victor examined the first page.
Then he quickly closed the file again.
Whatever was inside, he clearly did not want it becoming part of the investigation.
Back in the security office, Robert was reviewing the additional recordings.
Michael had managed to locate footage from the administrative entrance.
It showed Victor speaking with Daniel shortly before Emily arrived.
The two men appeared to exchange several documents.
Daniel examined one of them.
Then Victor pointed toward the reception area.
The conversation lasted less than a minute.
Robert watched the recording twice.
Captain Robert Mitchell: "Can you enlarge the image?"
Michael Reed: "I'll try, sir."
The picture became clearer.
Although the camera did not capture the entire conversation, it showed Victor handing Daniel a folded piece of paper.
Robert looked at the timestamp.
It was approximately seven minutes before the confrontation.
Captain Robert Mitchell: "What is that document?"
Michael Reed: "We can't identify it from this angle."
Robert nodded.
Captain Robert Mitchell: "Find out whether either department has a visitor notification or access request from this morning."
Michael Reed: "I'll check."
Robert stood and walked toward the window.
His thoughts returned to Emily.
Why would an administrative employee have a reason to prevent her from entering the building?
Was there a misunderstanding about her appointment?
Was someone concerned about the documents she was carrying?
Or was Daniel acting under instructions that had nothing to do with ordinary security procedures?
Robert knew that he had to be careful.
He could not allow speculation to influence the investigation.
But he also could not ignore evidence simply because it led somewhere uncomfortable.
His radio sounded again.
The medical department was requesting him.
Emily's brother had arrived.
Robert made his way toward the examination room.
When he entered, he saw a man standing beside Emily.
James Carter looked worried and angry.
He had clearly been told that his sister had been injured.
James Carter: "Are you the captain in charge of this building?"
Captain Robert Mitchell: "Yes. I'm Robert Mitchell."
James Carter: "My sister told me what happened. I want to know why a police officer was allowed to put his hands on her."
Robert did not become defensive.
He understood the man's concern.
Captain Robert Mitchell: "I understand why you're upset. I've already secured the available security footage, spoken with witnesses, and initiated a review of the incident."
James Carter: "Was the officer arrested?"
Captain Robert Mitchell: "The incident is being investigated. Any further action will be determined through the appropriate process."
James looked at Emily.
James Carter: "Did he hurt you anywhere else?"
Emily Carter: "My head hurts, but the nurse is checking everything."
James Carter: "You should have called me immediately."
Emily Carter: "I didn't know what to do."
James gently took her hand.
James Carter: "You don't have to deal with this alone."
Robert waited until they had finished speaking.
Then he approached them again.
Captain Robert Mitchell: "Mr. Carter, I want to assure you that the available evidence will be preserved. Your sister will have the opportunity to provide a complete statement, and witnesses will also be interviewed."
James Carter: "I want a copy of the security footage."
Captain Robert Mitchell: "The footage will be handled according to the applicable procedures. You can submit a formal request through the appropriate channel."
James Carter: "I don't want this to disappear."
Captain Robert Mitchell: "Neither do I."
Emily looked at Robert.
Emily Carter: "Captain, can I tell you something?"
Captain Robert Mitchell: "Of course."
Emily Carter: "Before I came here, I received a phone call from someone in the administrative office. They told me to bring the original documents rather than send copies."
Robert immediately became attentive.
Captain Robert Mitchell: "Who called you?"
Emily Carter: "I don't remember the name clearly. It was a man. He said the documents needed to be reviewed in person."
Robert exchanged a glance with James.
Captain Robert Mitchell: "When did you receive the call?"
Emily Carter: "Yesterday afternoon."
Captain Robert Mitchell: "Did you save the number?"
Emily nodded.
Emily Carter: "It should be in my phone."
Robert did not immediately ask to see it.
He wanted the information recorded properly.
Captain Robert Mitchell: "That may be important. Please keep the call details. Don't delete any messages or documents related to your appointment."
Emily Carter: "I won't."
James looked toward the captain.