For a brief moment, Harris appeared confused.
DEPUTY CHIEF HARRIS: "What happened here?"
Nobody answered immediately.
Emily looked toward Daniel, while David straightened his shoulders. Several officers who had witnessed the confrontation suddenly became very interested in the paperwork in their hands.
Daniel stepped away from the desk.
DANIEL BROOKS: "Deputy Chief, Officer Ryan Mitchell assaulted me during a confrontation at reception. Several employees witnessed the incident, and Emily has begun documenting what happened."
Harris looked at the cut on Daniel's cheek.
DEPUTY CHIEF HARRIS: "You were assaulted?"
DANIEL BROOKS: "Yes, sir."
Harris turned toward David.
DEPUTY CHIEF HARRIS: "Officer Mercer, is that accurate?"
DAVID MERCER: "Yes, sir. I saw Ryan grab Daniel's uniform and strike him across the face. I also heard the exchange before the punch."
The deputy chief's expression became more serious.
DEPUTY CHIEF HARRIS: "Where is Mitchell now?"
DAVID MERCER: "He went toward the administrative offices."
Harris exhaled slowly and looked around the room.
DEPUTY CHIEF HARRIS: "I want everyone who witnessed this incident to remain available. Nobody should alter or delete any relevant record. We'll handle this through the appropriate procedures."
His gaze returned to Daniel.
DEPUTY CHIEF HARRIS: "And you need medical attention. Has anyone examined that injury?"
DANIEL BROOKS: "Not yet. I'll have it checked."
DEPUTY CHIEF HARRIS: "Please do."
For the first time since entering the room, Harris seemed to recognize that the incident involved more than a disagreement between colleagues.
He opened the folder beneath his arm.
DEPUTY CHIEF HARRIS: "I also came down because the command office received a question about an administrative notification that was supposed to be acknowledged this morning. Apparently, the confirmation never arrived."
Emily turned toward her computer.
EMILY CARTER: "I found the original notification and the later request for confirmation. Both are still in the system."
Harris looked at her.
DEPUTY CHIEF HARRIS: "Can you show me the records?"
Emily moved aside so he could examine the screen.
She displayed the original message, its timestamp, and the subsequent request. Harris read each entry carefully.
His expression changed as he reached the end.
DEPUTY CHIEF HARRIS: "Who was responsible for processing this notification?"
EMILY CARTER: "I don't know, sir. The system shows when it arrived, but I haven't established who opened it or whether anyone handled it outside this workstation."
Harris nodded.
DEPUTY CHIEF HARRIS: "That's the correct answer. We need to establish responsibility from the records, not guess."
Daniel watched the deputy chief carefully.
DANIEL BROOKS: "Sir, I would like the administrative issue reviewed separately from the assault report. We shouldn't assume the two are connected until there's evidence."
Harris studied him for a moment.
DEPUTY CHIEF HARRIS: "Agreed."
He closed the folder.
DEPUTY CHIEF HARRIS: "But I need to understand one thing. Why wasn't I informed that you had arrived?"
Daniel paused.
DANIEL BROOKS: "I can't answer that yet. I expected the relevant personnel to have received the notice before I entered the building."
Harris glanced at Emily's screen again.
DEPUTY CHIEF HARRIS: "Then we need to find out what happened between the notification arriving and your arrival."
A door opened at the far end of the hallway.
Ryan Mitchell appeared, accompanied by a uniformed supervisor. His expression changed when he saw Harris standing beside Daniel.
He slowed his steps.
For a moment, he seemed uncertain whether to approach.
Then he straightened his uniform and walked toward the reception desk.
RYAN MITCHELL: "Deputy Chief. I understand there's been some confusion."
Harris turned toward him.
DEPUTY CHIEF HARRIS: "Is that what you're calling it?"
Ryan glanced at Daniel's cheek.
RYAN MITCHELL: "There was an argument. Things got heated, and I think the situation has been exaggerated."
Harris remained silent.
RYAN MITCHELL: "Daniel came in with an attitude, and I reacted badly. I admit that. But nobody needs to turn one bad moment into a departmental crisis."
DANIEL BROOKS: "You struck me in the face."
Ryan's jaw tightened.
RYAN MITCHELL: "I already said I reacted badly."
DANIEL BROOKS: "You also threatened Emily when she tried to document what happened."
Emily looked up.
EMILY CARTER: "He told me to delete the record and warned me about what I was writing."
Ryan immediately turned toward her.
RYAN MITCHELL: "I told you that you didn't have the full story."
EMILY CARTER: "You told me to delete it."
DEPUTY CHIEF HARRIS: "Officer Mitchell, stop. You'll have an opportunity to provide your account. You will not pressure witnesses or interfere with the documentation of this incident."
Ryan fell silent.