"You need to understand something, Agent. People come through these doors every day thinking that a title, a uniform, or a badge means they can tell everybody else what to do. It doesn't work that way here."
Maya remained still.
MAYA CARTER:
"Agreed. A badge doesn't eliminate the need to follow procedure. It doesn't eliminate that responsibility for you, either."
The words landed harder than she intended.
Ryan's jaw tightened. He glanced toward the other officers, checking whether they had heard the exchange. They had.
He could feel their attention shifting away from the argument itself and toward his reaction to it.
That was what bothered him most.
He had entered the conversation believing that he could control its direction. Now the visitor log had confirmed Maya's appointment, Daniel had verified her account, and the only person refusing to take the next step was Ryan himself.
He reached toward the document envelope in Maya's hand.
RYAN COLE:
"Give me that."
Maya drew the envelope slightly closer to her side, keeping it secure without making any sudden movement.
MAYA CARTER:
"The documents are addressed to the supervising officer. I can hand them over once the recipient is confirmed."
RYAN COLE:
"I told you to give them to me."
MAYA CARTER:
"And I explained why I can't release them to an unconfirmed recipient."
Ryan's expression hardened.
For a brief moment, neither of them moved.
Behind the counter, Daniel slowly lifted his head from the computer. The detectives beside the filing cabinet exchanged a glance. Even the officers farther down the hallway had begun paying attention.
Nobody knew exactly what Ryan would do next.
Maya did.
She had spent enough time in difficult professional situations to recognize the moment when a conversation stopped being productive and began turning into a test of control.
She shifted her attention toward the hallway, where the office directory listed the watch commander's extension. Her phone was in her pocket. The contact information for the federal office was saved and ready.
She still had several options.
Ryan, however, appeared determined to make sure she used none of them without his permission.
RYAN COLE:
"You think you can stand here and make me look incompetent in front of my own people?"
MAYA CARTER:
"I'm not trying to make you look anything. I'm asking you to complete a routine verification."
RYAN COLE:
"You're questioning my authority."
MAYA CARTER:
"I'm asking you to explain your decision."
The lobby fell silent again.
Ryan looked at the envelope, then at the identification wallet in Maya's hand. His attention returned to the visitor logbook sitting open on the counter.
The evidence of the morning was becoming difficult to ignore.
Maya had a confirmed appointment.
Her credentials had been presented for verification.
The visitor record existed.
And yet, after nearly half an hour, she was still standing in the same place where she had first asked for assistance.
Ryan reached for the identification wallet once more, this time with a sharper movement.
Maya held it securely.
MAYA CARTER:
"Please don't take my property. If you need to inspect the credentials again, tell me what you need to verify."
Ryan's hand stopped halfway between them.
For a second, his expression revealed something beyond anger: the realization that the entire lobby was watching to see what he would do.
He withdrew his hand, but his frustration remained.
RYAN COLE:
"You're going to regret turning a simple visit into this kind of problem."
Maya met his gaze without changing her posture.
MAYA CARTER:
"I came here to deliver information and speak with a supervisor. That is still all I'm trying to do."
Neither of them noticed the administrative door opening at the far end of the corridor.
A senior officer stepped into the lobby carrying a folder, paused when he saw the gathering crowd, and looked from Ryan to Maya.
The atmosphere had changed enough that even someone arriving in the middle of the disagreement could recognize that something was wrong.
He approached the reception counter.
SENIOR OFFICER:
"What's happening here?"
Ryan turned immediately, seizing the opportunity to present his version of events before Maya could speak.
RYAN COLE:
"We have a visitor refusing to follow instructions. She's demanding access to restricted offices and arguing about every decision I make."
Maya remained silent for a moment, allowing him to finish.
The senior officer looked at the envelope in her hand, then at the visitor logbook on the counter.
SENIOR OFFICER:
"Did anyone verify her appointment?"
DANIEL HAYES:
"Yes. I entered it into the system when she arrived."
SENIOR OFFICER:
"And was the supervising office notified?"
DANIEL HAYES:
"The system confirms that the notification was sent."