He had asked for his supervisor.
The request had been denied pending confirmation of the department's response.
He had asked to use his phone.
The investigators had explained that access would be handled according to the applicable procedures.
Then he had asked to speak to Detective Adrian Cross.
That request was granted.
Adrian entered the room carrying a thin folder and a bottle of water.
He placed both on the table.
Travis immediately leaned forward.
“Detective, thank God. Listen, I need you to understand something.”
Adrian sat down.
“Go ahead.”
“I made a mistake.”
“What mistake?”
“I didn't recognize you.”
Adrian opened the folder.
“Is that the mistake you want to discuss?”
Travis swallowed.
“I thought you were trespassing.”
“Did you verify my identification?”
“I was going to.”
“After you drew your weapon?”
“I was trying to control the situation.”
Adrian looked at him.
“You had my badge in your hand before you drew your weapon.”
Travis looked away.
“I was under pressure.”
“From whom?”
“No one.”
“Then why did you say you were under pressure?”
Travis hesitated.
Adrian closed the folder.
“Let's start again. Why were you at the warehouse?”
“Routine patrol.”
“Your assignment sheet says you were instructed to observe the east parking lot and report unfamiliar visitors.”
“That's part of my duty.”
“Who gave you that assignment?”
Travis rubbed his palms together.
“I don't remember.”
“You don't remember who assigned you to a special detail?”
“It was a busy day.”
“Travis, your shift began less than five hours ago.”
The officer's jaw tightened.
“Look, I know how this looks.”
“How does it look?”
“Bad.”
“That's an understatement.”
Travis leaned back.
“Can I ask you something?”
“You can ask.”
“Were you waiting for me?”
Adrian studied him.
“What makes you think that?”
“Because the SWAT team was already there. You knew exactly when they would arrive.”
“The operation was planned in advance.”
“So you knew I would be there.”
“No. I knew the evidence might be there. I did not know you would decide to interfere.”
Travis's face hardened.
“I didn't interfere. I was doing my job.”
Adrian let the silence settle.
Then he slid a printed photograph across the table.
It showed the assignment sheet clipped inside Travis's patrol vehicle.
Travis looked at it.
“Where did you get that?”
“Your patrol car.”
“You searched my vehicle?”
“The vehicle was secured as part of an active investigation. The relevant evidence was documented.”
Travis pushed the photograph away.
“That's an internal assignment. You can't just take it out of context.”
“What context would you like to provide?”
He hesitated.
Adrian opened the folder again.
“Your assignment was entered into the department system at 6:42 p.m. The user account belonged to Deputy Chief Robert Vance's administrative office.”
Travis went pale.
Adrian watched him carefully.
“Does that name mean something to you?”
“No.”
“Think carefully.”
“I said no.”
Adrian placed a second document on the table.
It was a record of a phone call made to Travis's personal number at 10:58 p.m.
The caller identification was unavailable, but the telecommunications record showed the call lasted forty-seven seconds.
“Who called you?” Adrian asked.
“Friends call me.”
“At 10:58 p.m., shortly before you arrived at the warehouse?”
“I don't have to explain every call I receive.”
“No, you don't. But if you're claiming that your presence at the warehouse was unrelated to the assignment from Vance's office, the timing is relevant.”
Travis stared at the record.
His fingers began tapping against the table.
“Can I speak to a lawyer?”
“Of course. You may request legal counsel. I'm not asking you to waive any rights.”
“Then I want a lawyer.”
Adrian closed the folder.
“That's your decision.”
He stood.
Travis suddenly spoke.
“Wait.”
Adrian stopped.
The officer's face was tense, his earlier arrogance replaced by something closer to desperation.
“Detective, if I tell you what happened, can you make sure I don't lose my job?”
Adrian turned around.
“No.”
Travis looked stunned.
“What?”
“I cannot promise you immunity from the consequences of your actions. I cannot guarantee what your department will do. And I will not bargain away evidence.”
“Then what's the point of talking to you?”
“To establish the truth.”
Travis shook his head.
“You don't understand how things work here.”
Adrian remained still.
“Then explain them to me.”
Travis lowered his voice.
“You think this is about one officer making a bad decision. It's not.”
Adrian did not interrupt.
“People above me make decisions. They tell us where to go, what to watch, who to report. If we ask questions, they remind us that we're replaceable.”
“Who told you to watch me?”
Travis looked toward the closed door.
“I can't say.”
“Why?”
“Because if I say his name, I'm finished.”
Adrian leaned forward slightly.
“You have already put yourself in a serious position. The question now is whether you intend to make it worse by withholding relevant information.”
Travis looked down at his hands.
“I was told a detective might come to the warehouse.”
“Who told you?”
“A supervisor.”
“Name?”
Travis swallowed.
“Lieutenant Harris.”
Adrian made a note.
“What exactly did Harris tell you?”
“He said someone was going to attempt to remove confidential department property. He said I needed to stop the person before the evidence left the building.”
“Did he tell you that person would be me?”
“No. He gave me a description.”
“What description?”
“Man in a black suit. Dark hair. Silver badge. Black sedan.”
Adrian's pen stopped moving.
The description had been precise.
Too precise for a general warning.
“Did Harris tell you to draw your weapon?”
“No.”
“Did he tell you to arrest me?”
“He told me to prevent you from entering the building.”
“How?”
Travis did not answer.
Adrian waited.
Finally, Travis whispered, “He said I should make sure you understood you weren't welcome.”
Adrian wrote down the statement.