OFFICER SIMONE HART: "Thank you, Commander."
Adrian handed the towel back to the receptionist.
ADRIAN COLE: "I need to see the security office."
A few minutes later, he was walking down a corridor toward a small surveillance room located near the building's administrative section.
The room contained multiple monitors showing different parts of the headquarters: the main entrance, parking area, reception desk, corridors, stairwells, and the surrounding streets.
A security technician named Aaron Bell was seated at the central workstation.
When Adrian entered, Aaron quickly stood.
AARON BELL: "Commander Cole. Good morning, sir."
ADRIAN COLE: "Good morning, Aaron. Please sit down."
Aaron returned to his chair.
Adrian pulled another chair closer to the workstation.
ADRIAN COLE: "I need the exterior recordings from this morning, beginning at seven-thirty. I want every available camera angle and the original files, not just the exported clips."
AARON BELL: "Yes, sir. I can bring those up."
ADRIAN COLE: "Preserve the system audit logs as well."
Aaron's hands stopped above the keyboard.
AARON BELL: "The audit logs?"
ADRIAN COLE: "Yes. I want to know who accessed the recordings, who exported them, and whether anything has been modified."
Aaron looked toward the office door.
AARON BELL: "Those records are usually handled through Deputy Chief Voss's office."
Adrian turned his head slightly.
ADRIAN COLE: "Does the system allow the commanding officer to place an evidence preservation hold?"
AARON BELL: "Yes, sir. It does."
ADRIAN COLE: "Then initiate one. Document the exact time and preserve the original files."
AARON BELL: "Understood."
Aaron began operating the system.
The first recording appeared on the largest monitor.
It showed the exterior entrance from a camera mounted above the security doors.
Adrian watched himself approach the building.
He saw Blake step away from the checkpoint.
He watched the officer move into his path.
Then came the water.
The recording showed the entire cup being thrown directly into his face.
Blake's laughter was visible in his body language, even though the camera had no audio.
Adrian watched himself wipe his face and remain standing.
He saw the officer pointing at him, moving closer, and eventually grabbing his jacket.
Then came the physical confrontation.
The recording showed the exact sequence of events: Blake grabbing first, Adrian attempting to disengage, and the officer advancing again before Adrian defended himself.
Aaron shifted uncomfortably.
AARON BELL: "I'm sorry that happened to you, sir."
ADRIAN COLE: "You didn't cause it, Aaron."
Adrian leaned closer to the screen.
ADRIAN COLE: "Can you go back about thirty minutes?"
Aaron rewound the recording.
The entrance appeared almost empty.
A delivery vehicle stopped near the curb. A few employees entered the building. A maintenance worker crossed the plaza carrying a toolbox.
Then, at approximately eight o'clock, an elderly woman appeared near the security entrance.
She was wearing a faded green coat.
Adrian immediately recognized her.
It was the same woman who had been standing near the bus shelter.
She carried the same thick brown envelope.
AARON BELL: "Do you know her, Commander?"
ADRIAN COLE: "No. I saw her outside a few minutes ago."
He watched the woman approach Blake.
The camera angle did not provide clear audio, but her gestures suggested that she was trying to explain something important.
She held the envelope out toward him.
Blake shook his head.
The woman tried again.
This time, Blake appeared visibly irritated.
He reached forward and snatched the envelope from her hands.
Adrian leaned closer.
ADRIAN COLE: "Pause the recording."
Aaron stopped the footage.
The image froze with the woman looking toward Blake and the officer holding the envelope.
ADRIAN COLE: "Do you recognize her?"
Aaron looked at the screen.
He hesitated before answering.
AARON BELL: "Yes, sir."
ADRIAN COLE: "Who is she?"
AARON BELL: "Her name is Iris Whitcomb."
ADRIAN COLE: "Is she an employee here?"
AARON BELL: "No. She's a civilian."
ADRIAN COLE: "Why does she keep coming to the headquarters?"
Aaron shifted in his chair.
AARON BELL: "She's been here many times. Almost every morning for a while."
ADRIAN COLE: "What does she want?"
AARON BELL: "She says she has evidence of false police reports. She has repeatedly asked to speak with someone in charge."
Adrian looked again at the brown envelope.
ADRIAN COLE: "What happened to her previous requests?"
Aaron did not answer immediately.
ADRIAN COLE: "Aaron?"
AARON BELL: "Security was instructed not to let her inside."
ADRIAN COLE: "Who gave that instruction?"
Aaron looked down at the keyboard.
The silence lasted long enough for Adrian to understand that the answer was not going to be comfortable.
ADRIAN COLE: "Was it Deputy Chief Voss?"
Aaron slowly nodded.
Adrian leaned back.
For the first time since entering the surveillance office, he felt that the incident outside might be connected to something far more serious than one officer's misconduct.
ADRIAN COLE: "Continue the recording."
Aaron pressed the playback button.
The woman tried to retrieve the envelope, but Blake pushed her away from the entrance.
She stumbled backward.
He then looked around, apparently checking whether anyone had witnessed the exchange.