Then at the scattered documents.
Then at Madison.
Her expression changed.
"Who did this?"
Madison turned.
"Excuse me?"
Victoria removed her sunglasses.
"I asked who did this."
Madison straightened her shoulders.
"Officer Madison Reed, City Police Department. This individual was interfering with federal operations."
Victoria looked at Evelyn.
For several seconds, she said nothing.
Then she walked forward, lowered herself beside the older woman, and gently picked up the damaged military identification card lying on the ground.
Her eyes widened.
She looked at the name.
Then at the photograph.
Then at the three stars engraved beneath it.
Victoria swallowed.
"General Brooks?"
Evelyn gave her a small nod.
"Victoria."
The younger woman's voice trembled.
"I thought you were supposed to arrive tomorrow."
"I changed my mind."
Victoria glanced at Madison again.
"Did this officer touch you?"
Madison interrupted.
"Listen, I don't know who you are, but you need to step away from the scene."
Victoria slowly stood.
She opened the black folder.
Inside was a document bearing the seal of the United States Department of Defense.
At the bottom of the first page was a signature that Madison would soon wish she had recognized.
Victoria spoke calmly.
"Officer Reed, I strongly suggest you call your commanding supervisor."
Madison crossed her arms.
"Why would I do that?"
Victoria looked at the three stars on Evelyn's identification card.
Then she delivered six words that made the people standing nearby fall silent.
"Because you just arrested a legend."
And behind the black sedan, the first military vehicle appeared.
Madison turned toward the street.
Her smile disappeared.
She had no idea what was coming.
The first military vehicle stopped directly behind the black sedan.
Then came another.
And another.
Within less than a minute, three dark tactical vehicles had lined the street outside the Federal Justice Building. Their engines continued running as armed personnel stepped out, scanning the surrounding area with the kind of discipline that Madison Reed had only ever seen in movies.
The crowd began whispering.
Phones were raised.
People who had initially walked past the old woman were now stopping to record what was happening.
Madison looked from the vehicles to Victoria Hayes.
"What is this supposed to be?" she demanded.
Victoria didn't answer immediately.
She was too busy helping Evelyn Brooks stand.
The general moved slowly, placing one hand on Victoria's shoulder for support. Her knees hurt, and her uniform was soaked, but she refused to show weakness.
A young soldier approached.
"General Brooks, ma'am."
He stood at attention and saluted.
Evelyn returned the salute.
"At ease, Sergeant."
The soldier's eyes moved briefly toward the water dripping from her uniform.
His jaw tightened.
"Ma'am, are you injured?"
"No. Just inconvenienced."
"Understood, ma'am."
Madison let out an uncomfortable laugh.
"Okay, this is getting ridiculous. You people are acting like she's the president."
Victoria finally turned toward her.
"Do you know who General Evelyn Brooks is?"
Madison shrugged.
"Some old woman claiming to be a general."
Victoria opened her folder and removed a document.
"General Evelyn Brooks served thirty-seven years in the United States Army. She commanded the 14th Strategic Intelligence Division, led classified operations overseas, and received the Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom."
A murmur spread through the crowd.
Madison glanced at Evelyn's chest.
The medals were real.
She had noticed them earlier, but she had assumed they were cheap decorations.
Victoria continued.
"She was also appointed as the principal witness in the federal investigation known as Operation Silent Harbor."
At those words, Evelyn's expression hardened.
"Victoria."
The younger woman stopped speaking.
Madison noticed the exchange.
"Operation what?"
Victoria closed the folder.
"Something you should never have heard about."
Madison folded her arms.
"Well, I'm still the officer in charge here. I don't care how many medals she has. She refused to cooperate with a lawful order."
Victoria stepped closer.
"Then perhaps you should explain why you poured water over a senior military officer, destroyed federal documents, and physically assaulted her in front of witnesses."
"I didn't assault anyone!"
A man from the crowd shouted.
"We all saw it!"
Another woman raised her phone.
"I recorded everything!"
Madison looked around.
For the first time, she realized that the crowd was no longer on her side.
She reached for her radio.
"Dispatch, this is Officer Reed. I need a supervisor at the Federal Justice Building. Possible disturbance involving military personnel."
Victoria interrupted.
"Tell them to bring your body camera footage as well."
Madison froze.
"What?"
"Your body camera. The recording of this incident."
Madison instinctively touched the device attached to her uniform.
Victoria smiled faintly.
"Good. Then we won't have any disagreements about what happened."
A deep voice suddenly came from behind them.
"Officer Reed."
Madison turned.
Captain Robert Mitchell was approaching from a police vehicle that had just arrived.
He was a broad-shouldered man in his fifties, with twenty-eight years of service and a reputation for being extremely careful about political and military matters.
"Captain," Madison said quickly. "Thank God you're here. This woman was causing a scene, and now these military people are interfering."
Mitchell ignored her.
His eyes were fixed on Evelyn.
He stopped several feet away.
Then he straightened his uniform.
"General Brooks."
Evelyn nodded.
"Captain Mitchell."
He looked at the wet uniform, the scattered documents, and the empty bottle lying near the curb.
His expression became unreadable.
"Would you mind explaining what happened?"
Madison immediately stepped forward.
"I can explain, sir. She refused to identify herself, became aggressive, andโ"
"Did I ask you?"
Madison fell silent.
Mitchell looked at Evelyn again.
"General?"
The old woman took a breath.
"I came here to deliver a sealed testimony to the federal oversight committee. Your officer stopped me, demanded that I leave, and proceeded to humiliate me when I refused."