For the first time that morning, Nia seemed to realize that the people around her were no longer willing to pretend that nothing serious had happened.
She adjusted her uniform and attempted to recover her composure.
NIA: "Fine. You all want to make this into a big investigation? Go ahead."
She pointed toward Amara.
NIA: "But don't expect me to apologize for defending myself."
AMARA: "You weren't defending yourself. I never attacked you."
NIA: "We'll see what the captain has to say."
Amara looked at her without responding.
She had no intention of trying to win an argument with someone who had already demonstrated that she was willing to use violence when words failed.
Instead, she turned toward Daniel.
AMARA: "Please make sure the security footage is preserved."
DANIEL: "I'll inform the supervisor."
AMARA: "And please ask everyone who witnessed this to give their own statement. I don't want anyone pressured into saying something they didn't see."
Daniel nodded.
DANIEL: "Understood."
Nia let out a short, bitter laugh.
NIA: "You really think you're going to run this place?"
Amara looked directly at her.
AMARA: "No. I think this place should follow its own rules."
The answer left Nia momentarily speechless.
She had expected Amara to cry, apologize, or threaten to ruin her career. Instead, the injured officer was asking for evidence to be preserved and witnesses to be treated fairly.
Nia could not understand why Amara remained so composed after being humiliated in front of the entire reception area.
She did not know that Amara had spent years learning to separate emotion from decision-making, especially in situations where anger could lead to mistakes.
She did not know why Amara had arrived that morning with a confidential folder.
And she did not know that several senior officials had been waiting for her to attend a meeting that would change the department's leadership.
For now, Nia assumed that Amara was simply another officer who had learned the hard way not to challenge her.
She believed that once she spoke with the captain, she could explain the incident in a way that protected her reputation.
She believed that the other officers would eventually return to their work and that the confrontation would become another uncomfortable memory that everyone preferred to forget.
But as the administrative employee ended her telephone call, she looked toward the corridor and spoke with a seriousness that made Nia turn around.
ADMINISTRATIVE EMPLOYEE: "The captain is coming down now."
Nia immediately straightened.
NIA: "Good. He needs to hear what really happened."
Amara said nothing.
She stood beside the reception counter, holding a folded tissue beneath her nose while Daniel remained nearby.
A few seconds later, footsteps approached from the administrative corridor.
Captain Robert Hayes appeared at the far end, accompanied by Laura Price, the department's administrative supervisor.
Hayes took one look at the gathered officers, the scattered papers on the floor, and Amara's injured face.
His expression changed.
HAYES: "What happened here?"
Nia stepped forward before anyone else could answer.
NIA: "Captain, I'm glad you're here. We have a serious problem with the new officer. She came in this morning and started questioning my authority."
Hayes looked at Amara.
HAYES: "Officer Johnson, are you injured?"
AMARA: "Yes, Captain."
HAYES: "Did Officer Okafor do this?"
Nia immediately interrupted.
NIA: "She was being disrespectful. I was trying to get the situation under control."
Hayes raised one hand, signaling her to stop.
HAYES: "I asked Officer Johnson a question."
Nia closed her mouth.
Amara took a breath.
AMARA: "I was waiting for the morning briefing when Officer Okafor approached me. She demanded to know why I was standing here. I explained that reception had instructed me to wait, but she became aggressive. She grabbed my hair, slapped me, pushed me to the floor, and continued attacking me while I was down."
Hayes looked toward Daniel.
HAYES: "Did you witness this?"
DANIEL: "Yes, Captain. I witnessed the physical confrontation. I saw Officer Okafor grab her, strike her, and push her down. I intervened when the attack continued."
NIA: "That's not the whole story!"
HAYES: "Then you will have an opportunity to provide your account. But nobody is going to shout over another person while I establish what happened."
The reception area fell silent.
Laura stepped forward and looked at Amara's face.
LAURA: "We should arrange medical attention and preserve the security footage immediately."
HAYES: "Agreed. Please arrange both."
LAURA: "I'll contact the security administrator now."
Hayes turned back toward Nia.
HAYES: "Officer Okafor, I want you to step away from this area and wait in the administrative office. Do not contact the witnesses about the incident."
Nia stared at him.
NIA: "You're taking her side without hearing mine?"