Grant gave Parker a warning look, but the younger officer continued. The camera captured the evidence bag beside the folded clothing, the gray tray, the open compartments of the suitcase, and the space between the table and the marked line on the floor.
When Parker finished, he lowered the camera.
Officer Parker: "The scene has been documented."
Officer Grant: "Good. Now we can proceed."
Monica Reed: "Proceed with what?"
Officer Grant: "Processing the suspected narcotics."
Monica Reed: "Have you established what the substance is?"
Officer Grant: "That will be determined."
Monica Reed: "Then why did you tell me you found drugs before the substance was tested?"
Grant's face tightened again.
Officer Grant: "Because it appears to be an illegal substance."
Monica Reed: "An appearance is not a laboratory result."
Officer Grant: "You seem to know an awful lot about this."
Monica Reed: "I know the difference between an allegation and a fact."
For the first time, Grant did not immediately answer. His gaze moved toward the corridor beyond the partition, where several airport employees had begun to notice the unusual activity around the inspection station. One of them slowed down before continuing toward the main security area.
Grant clearly wanted the confrontation to remain contained.
Monica wanted the opposite. She wanted the relevant people notified, the evidence preserved, and the incident reviewed by someone who was not personally involved.
The radio crackled again.
Control Desk: "Grant, your supervisor is responding. Estimated arrival in several minutes. Keep the area secure and preserve all relevant records."
Officer Grant: "Understood."
He returned the radio to his belt.
Officer Parker: "Should I contact medical staff for her cheek?"
Officer Grant: "The injury is minor."
Officer Parker: "That wasn't my question."
Grant turned toward him.
Officer Grant: "Are you trying to undermine me in front of the passenger?"
Officer Parker: "I'm asking whether medical staff should be notified."
Officer Grant: "No medical team is necessary."
Monica Reed: "I would like the option to be examined."
Parker nodded slightly.
Officer Parker: "I'll request medical assistance."
Officer Grant: "Parker, I said no."
Officer Parker: "She has requested an examination. We should document the request."
Grant stared at him for a long moment, but Parker had already lifted his radio.
Officer Parker: "Control, this is Parker at secondary inspection. Please advise medical staff that a passenger has sustained a facial injury during an encounter with an officer. The passenger is conscious and requesting an assessment."
Grant's face turned rigid.
Officer Grant: "You had no authority to phrase it that way."
Officer Parker: "I reported what happened."
Officer Grant: "You reported an allegation."
Officer Parker: "I reported that she has an injury and requested medical assistance."
Parker released the button.
Monica said nothing. She did not need to add anything to the exchange. Parker's words had placed the injury into the official communication record, and Grant's attempt to prevent the request from being made was now part of the same unfolding incident.
For a few seconds, the only sound came from the ventilation system and the distant announcements drifting through the terminal.
Then Grant moved toward Monica again.
Officer Grant: "I need you to understand something. If you continue to challenge every instruction I give you, this situation will become much more serious."
Monica Reed: "It became serious when you hit me."
Officer Grant: "You don't know what serious means."
Monica Reed: "Then explain why you're more concerned about my questions than the evidence you claim to have found."
Grant stopped in front of her. His height and broad shoulders made him physically imposing, but Monica refused to step backward merely to satisfy him. She kept her hands visible and maintained enough distance to avoid any suggestion that she was approaching him.
Officer Grant: "You're going to be searched again."
Monica Reed: "On what grounds?"
Officer Grant: "Because I said so."
Monica Reed: "That is not an explanation."
Officer Grant: "You can either cooperate or make this difficult."
Monica Reed: "I will comply with lawful instructions. I will not agree that your actions were justified simply because you are wearing a uniform."
The words seemed to irritate him more than any earlier question.
Grant looked toward Parker.
Officer Grant: "Search her belongings again. Every compartment."
Parker hesitated.
Officer Parker: "The initial search has already been conducted."
Officer Grant: "Then conduct another one."
Officer Parker: "Should we wait for the supervisor?"
Officer Grant: "No."
Parker glanced at Monica's suitcase. Several items had been moved during the first inspection, and the evidence bag remained on the table. Conducting another search before the supervisor arrived would complicate an already sensitive situation.
Officer Parker: "I think we should preserve the current state of the inspection until the supervisor reviews it."
Officer Grant: "You think too much."