He had not seriously considered that she might simply be telling the truth.
Harrison leaned back and stared at the screen.
He had worked in law enforcement for years. He had attended training sessions about reasonable suspicion, evidence collection, professional conduct, and the importance of documenting decisions accurately. He knew that officers were expected to distinguish facts from interpretations.
Yet in the parking lot, he had allowed his interpretation to become the foundation for his decisions.
He remembered Camille's appearance, her expensive SUV, and the way she had looked directly at him when she asked him to check the registration. He remembered feeling irritated because she did not appear intimidated by his uniform.
Those feelings had no legitimate place in determining whether the vehicle was stolen.
The realization was uncomfortable.
He could still claim that he had been responding to a report. He could still explain that the vehicle looked similar to the one described. But he could not explain why he had ignored the opportunity to verify the registration before placing Camille in handcuffs.
Nor could he explain why he had continued to dismiss her statements after the records supported her account.
At the front desk, Sergeant Hale received confirmation that the shopping center had a security system covering part of the parking lot. The property manager had been contacted, and staff were checking whether footage from the relevant time could be preserved.
Hale passed the information to Mitchell.
DESK SERGEANT MARTIN HALE: "The shopping center has cameras facing the parking area. They're checking whether the relevant footage is available."
LIEUTENANT KAREN MITCHELL: "Good. Make sure the request includes the period before the officer approached her, not just the arrest itself."
DESK SERGEANT MARTIN HALE: "I'll make sure of that."
LIEUTENANT KAREN MITCHELL: "We need to see what happened before the confrontation began. The context matters."
The request was sent to the shopping center's management office, along with the approximate time and location of the encounter. The footage would not necessarily capture every word spoken, but it could establish where Camille had been standing, whether she had attempted to leave, and how the interaction had developed.
While the request was being processed, Hale arranged a telephone call for Camille.
He returned to the interview room and explained that she would be allowed to contact the state legal office through the appropriate procedure. A few minutes later, he brought her the phone and gave her privacy to make the call.
Camille dialed her office.
The call was answered by her assistant, Maya Turner, who immediately recognized her voice.
MAYA TURNER: "Camille? Where have you been? I've been trying to reach you."
CAMILLE BROOKS: "I'm at Central Precinct. I've been detained following an incident involving my vehicle."
Maya's voice changed.
MAYA TURNER: "What happened? Are you hurt?"
CAMILLE BROOKS: "I'm not injured. An officer stopped me in a parking lot because he believed my SUV might be connected to a theft. I provided my identification and offered the registration, but he handcuffed me before completing the checks."
MAYA TURNER: "Are they still holding you?"
CAMILLE BROOKS: "Yes, although the registration has now been checked and the plate doesn't match the original report. The station is reviewing the situation."
MAYA TURNER: "I'll contact the appropriate people in the office and find out how we can assist you."
CAMILLE BROOKS: "Please do. I don't want anyone to interfere with the review, but I need legal assistance and I want the incident documented accurately."
MAYA TURNER: "Understood. I'll notify the senior counsel and arrange for someone to contact the station."
Camille gave Maya the necessary details and ended the call.
For the first time since her arrest, she felt less isolated. Her office now knew where she was, and someone could help ensure that her professional identity was confirmed and that she received appropriate legal assistance.
She returned the phone to Hale and thanked him.
CAMILLE BROOKS: "I appreciate you arranging that call."
DESK SERGEANT MARTIN HALE: "You're welcome. The lieutenant is reviewing the situation, and we're waiting for confirmation about the available footage."
CAMILLE BROOKS: "I hope the review focuses on the sequence of events, not simply on whether the officer believed he was acting appropriately."
Hale nodded.
DESK SERGEANT MARTIN HALE: "That's the purpose of reviewing the evidence."
Camille sat back in her chair.
She did not expect her professional position to erase what had happened. She also did not want her case to become a contest between influential people. She wanted a fair review that could establish what the officer had done, why he had done it, and whether his actions had been justified.