The officer near the secured gate was Raymond Collins, a veteran patrol officer who had worked at Harbor Point for more than twenty years.
Victoria looked at his name.
Victoria: "Has Officer Collins worked with Ryan Mitchell before?"
Captain Brooks: "Yes. They have been assigned to the same building security rotation on several occasions."
Victoria: "Then we should ask him about what he witnessed today and whether he has observed similar conduct."
Captain Brooks: "I'll include that in the interview plan."
Richard took a seat across from Victoria.
Richard: "Chief, I want to make sure we handle this in a way that protects the integrity of the department. We should not allow the incident to become a public spectacle before the investigation is complete."
Victoria: "Agreed. But protecting the department's integrity doesn't mean keeping people from knowing what happened."
Richard nodded.
Victoria: "We should provide accurate information when appropriate, but we must not reveal confidential personnel details or speculate about findings that haven't been established."
David: "The city communications office has already asked whether it should prepare a statement."
Victoria: "Tell them we are conducting an investigation, that the relevant recordings have been preserved, and that the officer has been removed from public-facing duties pending review. Nothing more until the facts are established."
David made a note.
Captain Brooks opened another document.
Captain Brooks: "There is one issue we need to discuss. Officer Mitchell has been instructed to remain in the administrative area, but he has asked to speak with you."
Victoria looked up.
Victoria: "Why?"
Captain Brooks: "He says he wants to explain what happened."
Richard frowned.
Richard: "He can provide his account to the investigators. He should not be approaching the chief directly while the review is underway."
Victoria considered the request.
Victoria: "He will have an opportunity to respond. But the interview should be conducted through the formal process."
Captain Brooks: "I'll inform him."
Victoria: "Also, make sure he understands that he must not contact witnesses or attempt to influence anyone's statement."
Captain Brooks: "Yes, Chief."
The meeting continued with a review of the evidence collection process.
At the same time, Ryan Mitchell was sitting alone in the administrative office.
The room was small, with a desk, two chairs, and a computer that had been disconnected from the department's internal security system.
His uniform was still neat, but his expression had changed completely.
He kept replaying the moment Richard Anderson had stepped out of the elevator.
He remembered the commander's voice.
He remembered the way David Brooks had immediately moved to secure the recordings.
Most of all, he remembered hearing the words "Chief Victoria Hayes."
Ryan had known that a new police chief was expected to arrive that morning. The department had received several internal announcements about the leadership change.
He simply had not paid attention to the details.
He had never imagined that the woman he had insulted and punched would be the person appointed to lead the department.
He picked up his phone and opened his messages.
A colleague had already sent him a question.
"What's happening downstairs? People are saying you hit the new chief."
Ryan stared at the message.
He typed a response, deleted it, and typed again.
Finally, he put the phone down without sending anything.
A few minutes later, Lieutenant Samuel Price entered the office.
Price was in his early fifties and had served as Ryan's immediate supervisor for several years. He had a reputation for keeping order and avoiding unnecessary conflict among his officers.
Price closed the door.
Price: "Ward, we need to talk."
Ryan looked up.
Ryan: "I know."
Price: "Do you understand the seriousness of what happened?"
Ryan: "I didn't know she was the new chief."
Price stared at him.
Price: "That's what you're focusing on?"
Ryan: "I thought she was just another visitor who didn't want to follow instructions."
Price: "She had an appointment."
Ryan: "I didn't see it."
Price: "Did you check?"
Ryan did not answer.
Price: "Did you contact reception?"
Ryan: "No."
Price: "Did you ask me to verify her identity?"
Ryan: "No."
Price leaned forward.
Price: "Then why did you grab her?"
Ryan rubbed his forehead.
Ryan: "She kept challenging me."
Price: "And that gave you the right to punch her?"
Ryan looked away.
Ryan: "I lost my temper."
Price remained silent.
Ryan: "I know it looks bad."
Price: "It doesn't just look bad, Ward. You struck someone in the middle of the department lobby. There were witnesses. There are recordings."