Daniel Carter was waiting outside Deputy Chief Whitmore's office.
He had spent the last twenty minutes trying to understand how the captain had discovered the archived footage.
His first instinct was to call Harlan.
But Chief Harlan was no longer answering his messages.
His second instinct was to speak with Whitmore.
That meeting had not gone as planned.
Whitmore had listened carefully, asked several questions, and then told Daniel to stop discussing the case with anyone.
Daniel hated that answer.
He was still standing in the corridor when Captain Mitchell approached.
"Officer Carter."
He turned.
"Captain."
"I need you to come with me."
"Why?"
"An investigator needs to speak with you."
Daniel looked past her.
"About what?"
"The Thomas Bell incident."
He laughed nervously.
"Again?"
"Yes."
"I've already explained what happened."
"Then explaining it again shouldn't be difficult."
Daniel's expression hardened.
"Am I being accused of something?"
"You're being asked to provide information."
"That sounds like an accusation."
Renee stopped in front of him.
"Officer, your concerns about the process can be addressed through the appropriate channels. But you are not going to dictate the terms of an evidence review."
Daniel stepped closer.
"I know my rights."
"Good."
"I know department policy."
"Excellent."
"And I know when someone is trying to set me up."
Renee looked at him for several seconds.
"Then you should have no difficulty cooperating with an independent investigation."
Daniel shook his head.
"You people come in here thinking you can just take over."
Renee's voice became firmer.
"Listen carefully, Officer Carter."
Several people in the corridor stopped talking.
"You were given a lawful instruction to preserve evidence and avoid contact with individuals involved in a pending complaint. Instead, the evidence system recorded an unauthorized access under your credentials this morning."
Daniel went pale.
"That's not true."
"The access log says otherwise."
"Someone could've used my account."
"That possibility will be examined."
"Then you can't blame me!"
"I'm not blaming you. I'm asking you to explain."
He glanced toward the bullpen.
His colleagues were watching.
He lowered his voice.
"You don't know what you're doing."
Renee remained perfectly still.
"Is that your professional assessment?"
"I'm saying you walked into this department today and started attacking people who've worked here for years."
"Questioning an evidence record is not an attack."
"You think you're better than everyone?"
"No."
She took one step closer.
"I think the public deserves officers who understand that a badge is a responsibility, not a personal shield."
Daniel clenched his jaw.
"You keep talking about responsibility. What about respect?"
"Respect is earned through conduct."
He laughed bitterly.
"You're the boss now, right?"
"Yes."
"So you can just do whatever you want?"
"No."
Renee's answer was immediate.
"I am subject to policy, oversight, and the law. So are you."
She pointed toward the interview room.
"Now move."
Daniel didn't move.
"Or what?"
The corridor became completely silent.
Renee looked at him.
"Or your refusal will be documented and referred to the appropriate authority."
Daniel stared at her.
Then he stepped aside.
But before walking away, he muttered something under his breath.
Renee heard it.
"What did you say?"
"Nothing."
"Then let's keep it that way."
She turned toward the interview room.
Inside, Detective Bennett was already waiting.
Daniel entered and sat down.
His body camera had been removed according to the interview protocol.
A recording device was positioned on the table.
Detective Bennett introduced herself and explained the purpose of the interview.
Daniel answered the preliminary questions.
Name.
Rank.
Years of service.
Current assignment.
Then Bennett placed a photograph of the archived video access log on the table.
"Officer Carter, did you access the Thomas Bell recording this morning?"
"No."
"The system indicates that your credentials were used."
"I didn't access it."
"Are you saying someone used your account without your knowledge?"
"Possibly."
"Did you share your login credentials with anyone?"
"No."
"Has anyone else had access to your workstation?"
"People walk through the bullpen all the time."
"That's not what I asked."
Daniel shifted in his chair.
Detective Bennett continued.
"Did you know the original footage still existed?"
"No."
"Did you speak with Deputy Chief Whitmore about this case?"
Daniel hesitated.
"Yes."
"When?"
"This morning."
"What did you discuss?"
"Department business."
"What specific department business?"
Daniel looked toward the door.
"I don't remember."
Bennett made a note.
"Officer Carter, the original recording contains footage that contradicts parts of your incident report."
Daniel's face tightened.
"That's your interpretation."
"No. That's what the recording shows."
He leaned forward.
"Look, the man was resisting."
"At the moment you grabbed him, he was standing beside his vehicle."
"He wasn't cooperating."
"Noncompliance and physical resistance are not necessarily the same thing."
Daniel said nothing.
Bennett placed another photograph on the table.
It showed Kevin Miller approaching the vehicle.
"Officer Miller was present. He has not yet provided a formal statement."
Daniel looked at the photograph.
Then he looked away.
"Are we done?"
"For today."
He stood.
But before he reached the door, Detective Bennett spoke again.
"Officer Carter?"
He turned.
"Yes?"
"Do not attempt to contact any witnesses about this investigation."
Daniel gave a stiff nod.
He left the room.
Outside, Renee was waiting.
She held a new document.
"Officer Carter."
He stopped.
"Yes, Captain?"
"Effective immediately, you are being placed on temporary administrative reassignment pending the outcome of the independent investigation."
His eyes widened.
"You're taking me off patrol?"
"Temporarily."
"On whose authority?"
"Mine, under the department's administrative procedures."
Daniel looked furious.
"You can't do this."
"I can, and I have."
She handed him the notice.
"Read it carefully."
He took the paper.
For several seconds, he didn't speak.
Then he looked up.
"You're making a big mistake, Captain."
Renee met his stare.
"Officer Carter, your first mistake was believing you were untouchable."
She turned and walked away.
Daniel stood alone in the corridor, holding the document.
For the first time since she had entered the precinct, he understood that the woman carrying the blue folder had never been there to ask for permission.
She had come to take responsibility for a department that had forgotten what accountability meant.
And the investigation was only beginning.