CAPTAIN WALKER:
"By throwing away her identification?"
RYAN COLE:
"I believed she was using her position to challenge my authority."
CAPTAIN WALKER:
"Did you verify her position before making that judgment?"
RYAN COLE:
"Her credentials were presented, sir."
CAPTAIN WALKER:
"That wasn't my question."
Ryan looked down briefly.
The captain placed the badge on the reception counter, away from the papers and office equipment.
CAPTAIN WALKER:
"An identification badge is not a toy, and a visitor's credentials are not something you dispose of because you're unhappy with a conversation. If you have a legitimate concern, you follow the verification procedure. If you believe someone is violating a rule, you identify the rule and document the facts."
He paused.
CAPTAIN WALKER:
"You do not substitute your personal frustration for a professional decision."
The officers nearby remained silent.
Maya stood beside the counter, her expression composed. She could see that Captain Walker was angry, but he was directing that anger toward the conduct that needed to be examined rather than turning the lobby into another argument.
That distinction mattered.
CAPTAIN WALKER:
"Agent Carter, did Officer Cole explain why he was taking your badge?"
MAYA CARTER:
"He requested to examine my credentials. I presented them. He returned the identification wallet, but he retained the badge and subsequently discarded it."
Ryan turned toward her.
RYAN COLE:
"That's not the whole story."
MAYA CARTER:
"Then please explain which part is inaccurate."
Her tone remained even.
Captain Walker raised one hand slightly, signaling that he would manage the exchange.
CAPTAIN WALKER:
"Officer Cole, you'll have an opportunity to provide your account. But I expect specific answers, not general accusations."
Ryan took a breath.
RYAN COLE:
"I thought she was trying to make me look incompetent in front of the other officers. She kept insisting that I contact someone above me."
CAPTAIN WALKER:
"Was the request unreasonable?"
RYAN COLE:
"I didn't have all the information."
CAPTAIN WALKER:
"That is precisely why verification exists."
The captain turned toward Elena Bennett.
CAPTAIN WALKER:
"Ms. Bennett, please confirm the appointment and the instructions that were sent to the precinct."
ELENA BENNETT:
"The appointment was confirmed yesterday afternoon. The administrative office entered the information into the system and sent the notification to the designated department contact. Agent Carter was instructed to deliver the sealed briefing package directly to the supervising officer."
CAPTAIN WALKER:
"Was Officer Cole the designated recipient?"
ELENA BENNETT:
"No. The package was intended for the supervising officer. Officer Cole was not authorized to receive its contents simply because he was the first officer to speak with Agent Carter."
The captain nodded.
CAPTAIN WALKER:
"Was Agent Carter authorized to enter the restricted offices without an escort?"
ELENA BENNETT:
"She was authorized to attend the scheduled meeting. The normal access procedure still applied, which is why we expected the supervisor to meet her at reception."
CAPTAIN WALKER:
"So she was expected to wait for the supervisor, and she did."
ELENA BENNETT:
"Correct."
Captain Walker turned back toward Ryan.
CAPTAIN WALKER:
"Then the original procedure was straightforward. Verify the appointment, notify the supervisor, and wait for the authorized person to arrive."
RYAN COLE:
"Yes, sir."
CAPTAIN WALKER:
"Instead, the situation escalated."
Ryan said nothing.
The captain looked toward Daniel.
CAPTAIN WALKER:
"Officer Hayes, I want your account of what happened from the time Agent Carter arrived. Include only what you personally observed."
Daniel's shoulders stiffened.
He had expected to be asked about the visitor log, but he had not expected to provide a full account in front of the captain and several senior personnel.
For a moment, his eyes moved toward Ryan.
Then he remembered Maya's earlier words about verifying what he knew.
DANIEL HAYES:
"Agent Carter arrived for the scheduled appointment. I checked her information and entered the visit into the system. There was a delay while the system processed the entry, but the confirmation was recorded."
CAPTAIN WALKER:
"Continue."
DANIEL HAYES:
"Officer Cole told her that the supervisor wasn't available. Agent Carter asked him to contact the supervising officer. He refused and told her to leave the documents at reception."
CAPTAIN WALKER:
"Did she attempt to leave the documents?"
DANIEL HAYES:
"No, sir. She explained that they were restricted and needed to go to the designated recipient."
CAPTAIN WALKER:
"What happened after that?"
DANIEL HAYES:
"Officer Cole told her that she was acting as though she had authority over the precinct. She repeated that she only needed the appointment verified and the supervisor contacted."
Ryan looked toward Daniel.
DANIEL HAYES: