The briefing had already been delayed, and the department's senior staff were waiting in the conference room. Ethan had been told to remain away from the investigation, but he was still in the building and would soon learn that the morning had taken a direction he had never anticipated.
CLAIRE: "The briefing should proceed as scheduled, provided the immediate evidence collection is secured."
HAYES: "Laura can continue coordinating that. I'll make sure the relevant personnel are present."
CLAIRE: "And the investigation?"
HAYES: "It will continue independently of the briefing."
CLAIRE: "Good. I don't want the announcement to distract from the incident."
HAYES: "Understood."
When Claire left the conference room, she found Daniel waiting in the corridor. He looked as though he wanted to ask something but was uncertain whether he should.
DANIEL: "I heard they found the footage."
CLAIRE: "They did."
DANIEL: "Does that mean Miller can't deny what happened?"
CLAIRE: "He can give his account. The investigators will compare it with the evidence."
DANIEL: "I suppose that's fair."
CLAIRE: "It's necessary. Fairness doesn't mean preventing someone from speaking. It means examining what they say alongside the facts."
Daniel considered that answer.
DANIEL: "I never thought I'd see the department review one of his incidents this seriously."
CLAIRE: "Then perhaps we should ask why previous incidents didn't receive the same attention."
Daniel looked down the corridor.
DANIEL: "People have been talking about it for a long time."
CLAIRE: "Talking privately isn't the same as having a reliable record."
DANIEL: "No. I guess it isn't."
Claire adjusted the folder beneath her arm.
CLAIRE: "If you remember anything else that may be relevant, report it through the proper process. Don't speculate, and don't let anyone pressure you into changing what you saw."
DANIEL: "I won't."
For the first time that day, Daniel sounded certain.
The two walked toward the conference room, where several senior officers had gathered around a long table. Some were reviewing documents, while others spoke quietly about the unexpected delay. A large screen at the front displayed the department's official emblem.
Ethan was not among them.
He had been instructed to remain in a separate office until further notice, and Sergeant Reynolds had been assigned to ensure that he did not approach witnesses about the incident.
Ethan considered the restriction insulting.
He had spent years working without being questioned by people he considered less experienced. Now he was being told to wait while administrators reviewed his conduct as though he were an ordinary employee whose actions needed to be examined.
He paced the small office, checking his telephone every few minutes.
A message from a colleague appeared on the screen, asking whether the rumors about the reception incident were true.
Ethan began typing a response, then deleted it.
He knew that any message could become part of the investigation if the matter escalated. Still, the thought of remaining silent while others discussed him made him increasingly restless.
He sent a short reply.
ETHAN'S MESSAGE: "The situation has been misrepresented. I'll explain when the time is right."
He put the telephone away and stared at the closed office door.
He had expected the captain to settle the matter quickly. He had expected his years of service to carry more weight than the word of someone who had only just arrived.
Instead, the department was preserving footage, collecting statements, and examining old complaints.
The possibility that the incident might lead to a broader review had not yet fully registered with him.
He was still focused on proving that Claire had challenged him.
He had not begun to consider whether his own behavior had become so normalized that he no longer recognized the seriousness of what he had done.
In the conference room, Hayes entered and took his place at the head of the table. Laura sat beside him with the administrative records, while Claire stood near the screen.
The senior officers gradually stopped talking.
HAYES: "Thank you for waiting. I know the schedule has changed, but there are two matters that require our attention this morning."
He paused and looked around the room.
HAYES: "The first concerns an incident that occurred at the reception desk. A formal investigation has begun, relevant security footage has been preserved, and witness statements are being collected. I will not discuss every detail here because the investigation must follow its proper course."
Several officers exchanged glances.
HAYES: "I want to be clear about one point. No employee is permitted to intimidate witnesses, interfere with evidence, or pressure another person to change a statement. Anyone who attempts to do so will be subject to further review."