"You decided you knew who I was before asking."
Ryan shook his head.
"You're new here."
Maya remained calm.
"Yes."
"Then listen to someone who knows this station."
Maya looked at him for a long moment.
"Do you always speak this confidently when you don't know the facts?"
Ryan's expression tightened.
"I know exactly what I'm doing."
Maya opened the folder slightly.
Ryan tried to see inside.
"What are you hiding?"
Maya closed it again.
"Nothing."
She looked directly into his eyes.
"I'm simply waiting for you to finish."
Ryan became irritated.
"I'm telling you to leave."
Maya nodded once.
"All right."
She picked up the folder.
"Then we need to discuss your first mistake."
Ryan's confidence began to weaken.
But he still didn't understand why.
Maya walked into the command office.
Ryan followed.
"This office belongs to the chief."
Maya placed the folder on the desk.
"I know."
Ryan stopped.
"Then why are you still here?"
Maya opened the folder.
She removed a sealed appointment order.
Ryan glanced at it.
Then his eyes stopped.
At the top of the document was the fictional department's official command designation.
Beneath it was a name.
MAYA CARTER — CHIEF OF POLICE
Ryan stared at the page.
Then at Maya.
"No."
Maya remained silent.
"You're the new chief?"
"Yes."
Ryan looked toward the office.