Once the incident had been documented, he returned the badge to Maya.
CAPTAIN WALKER:
"Here you are, Agent Carter."
Maya accepted it carefully.
MAYA CARTER:
"Thank you."
She inspected the identification to ensure it was intact, then returned it to her wallet.
The gesture was small, but it marked the end of one part of the morning.
The badge had been discarded.
It had been recovered.
And the circumstances surrounding that decision would now be examined through the department's formal procedures.
Captain Walker turned toward Elena.
CAPTAIN WALKER:
"Let's get the briefing underway. The delay has already cost us time."
ELENA BENNETT:
"The conference room is ready. The federal team is waiting for confirmation."
CAPTAIN WALKER:
"Tell them we're proceeding. I'll join you shortly."
Elena nodded and began walking toward the administrative corridor.
Maya followed at a measured pace, carrying the sealed envelope.
As they approached the doorway, Captain Walker fell into step beside her.
CAPTAIN WALKER:
"Before we begin, I want to clarify something. You're here as a federal agent assigned to a joint investigation. You're entitled to have your credentials verified and your appointment handled through the established process. That doesn't mean every question will automatically be answered in your favor, but it does mean the process must be fair."
MAYA CARTER:
"I agree. I don't expect anyone to bypass the rules for me. I expect the same rules to be applied consistently."
CAPTAIN WALKER:
"That is what we should be able to guarantee."
They entered the administrative corridor.
For Maya, the change in atmosphere was immediate. The lobby had been noisy and exposed, with every exchange becoming an opportunity for someone to watch, judge, or intervene. The corridor was quieter, its walls lined with framed commendations, department photographs, and notices describing current initiatives.
At the end stood a conference room with a long table, a wall-mounted display, and several chairs arranged around a stack of briefing materials.
Elena opened the door.
Inside, two federal investigators were reviewing documents. A local detective sat near the display, checking the time on his watch.
When Maya entered, they looked up.
FEDERAL INVESTIGATOR:
"Agent Carter. We were beginning to wonder whether the meeting had been moved."
MAYA CARTER:
"It was delayed at reception. The appointment has now been confirmed, and we're ready to proceed."
FEDERAL INVESTIGATOR:
"Everything all right?"
Maya placed the sealed envelope on the table.
MAYA CARTER:
"The administrative issue is being documented separately. It won't affect the briefing."
Captain Walker entered behind her and took a seat near the head of the table.
CAPTAIN WALKER:
"Let's focus on the investigation. We can address the administrative matter through the proper channel."
The federal investigator nodded and opened a folder.
The meeting began.
For the next several minutes, the participants reviewed the reason for the joint investigation, the information that had been received overnight, and the steps required to coordinate the next phase of their work. Maya presented the sealed package to Captain Walker, who verified that he was the designated recipient before opening it.
The documents contained a structured summary of the case, a list of outstanding questions, and several items requiring confirmation from the local department.
Maya spoke with the same calm precision she had maintained in the lobby.
She distinguished verified facts from preliminary information, identified the points that needed further investigation, and explained which details could be shared with the local team and which needed to remain restricted until additional checks had been completed.
Captain Walker listened carefully.
He asked questions when the evidence was unclear, requested clarification when two records appeared inconsistent, and assigned the relevant tasks to the appropriate personnel.
Nobody was required to agree with every suggestion automatically.
Nobody was encouraged to treat a professional disagreement as a personal challenge.
The meeting was not free of tension, but the tension was productive. Each question served a purpose, and each decision was connected to an identifiable responsibility.
That was what Maya had wanted from the beginning.
Near the middle of the briefing, Captain Walker closed one of the folders and looked across the table.
CAPTAIN WALKER:
"Agent Carter, I want to thank you for bringing the material directly to us. We have several issues to resolve, but at least we can now establish what needs to happen next."
MAYA CARTER:
"That's the objective. We need a reliable record and clear responsibilities before anyone moves forward."
FEDERAL INVESTIGATOR:
"Agreed. We'll circulate the action list after the meeting, with each task assigned to a named contact."
CAPTAIN WALKER:
"Good. My office will coordinate the local department's response."
The discussion continued.