Daniel glanced toward Gabriel.
GABRIEL ORTIZ: You should probably stop, Dan.
DANIEL COLE: I told you to stay out of it.
Gabriel looked away.
Claire noticed that the young officer was frightened.
She also noticed something else.
When Daniel had taken her credentials, a man standing near the eastern corridor had immediately disappeared through a restricted doorway.
The man had been wearing a dark uniform.
He had carried a thin folder.
And he had been watching the confrontation before leaving.
Claire recognized the significance.
Someone had been waiting for her arrival.
Someone knew that she would begin examining the evidence records.
And someone might have used Daniel's behavior to create a distraction.
She glanced toward the corridor.
Then she looked back at Daniel.
CLAIRE BENNETT: Who was the officer standing near the eastern hallway?
DANIEL COLE: What officer?
CLAIRE BENNETT: The man who just left.
DANIEL COLE: I don't know what you're talking about.
CLAIRE BENNETT: You didn't see him?
DANIEL COLE: I was dealing with you.
Claire studied him.
She decided not to reveal what she had noticed.
Instead, she reached into her blazer and removed her phone.
Daniel watched her.
DANIEL COLE: Who are you calling?
CLAIRE BENNETT: My office.
DANIEL COLE: You can complain later.
CLAIRE BENNETT: I'm not calling to complain.
She unlocked the device and selected a secure contact.
The call connected after two rings.
CLAIRE BENNETT: Control, this is Bennett.
A voice answered.
Claire looked toward the operations room.
CLAIRE BENNETT: Confirm my registered inspection location.
She listened.
CLAIRE BENNETT: Correct. North River Police Division. Central precinct.
She paused.
CLAIRE BENNETT: I have encountered interference from a local officer. Federal identification has been taken, physical contact has occurred, and the inspection has been obstructed.
Daniel's expression changed.
DANIEL COLE: What are you doing?
Claire ignored him.
CLAIRE BENNETT: I also have reason to believe that someone may be attempting to remove or alter evidence before the inspection is completed.
The voice on the other end asked another question.
Claire looked toward the evidence corridor.
CLAIRE BENNETT: Yes. I want the building secured immediately.
She listened again.
Then she added one final instruction.
CLAIRE BENNETT: Preserve every security recording and restrict access to the narcotics evidence storage area.
She ended the call.
Daniel looked at her phone.
Then at the wastebasket.
DANIEL COLE: You really think you can shut down this department?
CLAIRE BENNETT: I think someone here has something to hide.
DANIEL COLE: You're making a serious mistake.
CLAIRE BENNETT: Perhaps. But I'm not the one who should be worried about a recording of this morning's events.
Daniel's expression hardened.
Before he could respond, the door leading to the command office opened.
Police Chief Warren Mercer stepped into the operations room.
He was sixty-one, silver-haired, and dressed in a crisp white command shirt.
He had spent most of his career cultivating the image of a disciplined, respectable police leader.
His department had received several public service awards.
He regularly appeared at community events and gave interviews about the importance of transparency.
But when he saw Claire standing beside the evidence desk, his expression changed.
Then he noticed Daniel.
Finally, his eyes moved toward the wastebasket.
His face lost its color.
CHIEF WARREN MERCER: Agent Bennett?
Claire turned.
CLAIRE BENNETT: Chief Mercer.
The chief approached slowly.
CHIEF WARREN MERCER: I wasn't informed that you were coming today.
CLAIRE BENNETT: The inspection was deliberately unannounced.
CHIEF WARREN MERCER: I understand.
He glanced toward the wastebasket again.
CHIEF WARREN MERCER: Daniel, what happened here?
Daniel immediately straightened.
DANIEL COLE: Chief, I was dealing with an unauthorized visitor who refused to cooperate with a security check.
Claire said nothing.
The chief looked at her.
CHIEF WARREN MERCER: Is that accurate?
CLAIRE BENNETT: No.
The chief's eyes moved toward the federal authorization folder.
CLAIRE BENNETT: I presented my credentials, signed the required authorization sheet, and requested access to the narcotics evidence ledger.
CHIEF WARREN MERCER: I see.
CLAIRE BENNETT: Officer Cole took my identification, physically grabbed my arm, refused to return the credentials, and threw them into the wastebasket.
The chief slowly turned toward Daniel.
CHIEF WARREN MERCER: Is that true?
DANIEL COLE: I was maintaining security.
CHIEF WARREN MERCER: That wasn't my question.
Daniel hesitated.
DANIEL COLE: I may have handled the situation incorrectly.
The chief looked deeply uncomfortable.