Sergeant Lewis looked toward Daniel.
SERGEANT LEWIS: "Is that an accurate description of your position?"
DANIEL BROOKS: "I denied that the substance belonged to me. I also requested that the inspection, the handling of the evidence, and the actions of everyone involved be documented."
SERGEANT LEWIS: "Did you interfere with the inspection?"
DANIEL BROOKS: "No."
SERGEANT LEWIS: "Did you threaten either officer?"
DANIEL BROOKS: "No."
SERGEANT LEWIS: "Did you refuse a lawful instruction?"
DANIEL BROOKS: "I complied with the instructions given to me while asking for clarification about the basis for the accusation."
The supervisor nodded and turned back toward Miller.
SERGEANT LEWIS: "Who discovered the bag?"
OFFICER MILLER: "I recovered it during the inspection."
SERGEANT LEWIS: "Where exactly was it found?"
Miller paused.
OFFICER MILLER: "Inside the suitcase."
SERGEANT LEWIS: "Which part of the suitcase?"
Miller glanced toward the open luggage.
OFFICER MILLER: "Among the traveler's belongings."
SERGEANT LEWIS: "Which belongings?"
The older officer hesitated again.
It was the first time someone other than Daniel had demanded a specific answer instead of accepting Miller's general description.
OFFICER MILLER: "I would need to review my notes to provide the exact location."
SERGEANT LEWIS: "Then your notes need to be preserved. Ryan, did you observe the discovery?"
Ryan looked at Miller before answering.
OFFICER RYAN: "I was present during the inspection."
SERGEANT LEWIS: "Did you personally see the substance before Miller produced the evidence bag?"
Ryan swallowed.
OFFICER RYAN: "I need to be precise about what I saw."
SERGEANT LEWIS: "Then be precise."
OFFICER RYAN: "I saw the bag after Miller raised it. I cannot independently confirm every detail of how it was recovered."
Miller turned sharply toward him.
OFFICER MILLER: "You were standing right there."
OFFICER RYAN: "I was there. I'm telling him what I can personally confirm."
Sergeant Lewis raised a hand to stop the exchange.
SERGEANT LEWIS: "Neither of you is going to argue about this. We are going to establish the sequence of events using the available records."
He turned toward the security operations employee.
SERGEANT LEWIS: "Can we preserve the relevant surveillance footage?"
SECURITY OPERATIONS OFFICER: "Yes. We can identify the cameras covering this checkpoint and secure the available recordings for review."
SERGEANT LEWIS: "Do that. Preserve the footage covering the inspection table, the approach to the checkpoint, and the surrounding area. Make sure the original recordings are retained."
SECURITY OPERATIONS OFFICER: "Understood."
The employee began entering information into the tablet.
Miller shifted his weight.
OFFICER MILLER: "The footage may not show everything that happened at the table."
SERGEANT LEWIS: "That is why we preserve all relevant recordings and examine the evidence as a whole."
OFFICER MILLER: "I'm only explaining that the camera angle might be limited."
SERGEANT LEWIS: "Then we will account for the limitations. We are not going to decide what happened before we review the available material."
Daniel remained silent.
For the first time since the confrontation began, the investigation was being approached as a question that needed to be answered rather than a conclusion that needed to be defended.
Sergeant Lewis turned toward Daniel again.
SERGEANT LEWIS: "I understand that you have presented federal credentials. We are waiting for the appropriate verification. Until that is complete, I want everyone to keep this professional."
DANIEL BROOKS: "Agreed."
SERGEANT LEWIS: "Is there anything else you want documented at this stage?"
Daniel glanced toward the open suitcase and the evidence bag.
DANIEL BROOKS: "I want the condition of my luggage recorded, the handling of the evidence documented, and the original surveillance footage preserved. I also want the names of everyone who participated in the inspection included in the report."
SERGEANT LEWIS: "Those requests will be recorded."
Daniel nodded.
Miller folded his arms, clearly displeased that the encounter was no longer proceeding under his sole direction.
The supervisor then asked the security operations employee to identify the relevant cameras.
The employee looked up toward the ceiling and checked the camera locations on the tablet.
SECURITY OPERATIONS OFFICER: "There is a camera covering the main inspection table, another covering the approach to this station, and a third covering the adjacent screening lane. We will preserve all three views."
SERGEANT LEWIS: "Good. Do not overwrite or alter the original recordings."
SECURITY OPERATIONS OFFICER: "Understood."
Miller looked toward Daniel.