He could no longer pretend that the confrontation had been private.
People had seen his behavior.
The clerk had recorded statements.
The bailiff had witnessed the aftermath.
And the security supervisor had begun a formal review.
Even if he believed that his original suspicion had been genuine, he could not erase the manner in which he had acted.
A few minutes later, Thomas returned.
THOMAS: "Administration has acknowledged the request to preserve the footage. They are identifying the relevant camera files and the time range."
CAPTAIN HARPER: "Good. Please ask them to confirm when the preservation is complete."
THOMAS: "I will."
Josephine nodded.
JOSEPHINE: "Thank you."
The group waited while the communications desk retrieved the message relating to Maya Reynolds.
Bradley stood with his hands at his sides, no longer speaking unless directly addressed.
He appeared to be replaying the confrontation in his mind.
He remembered the moment he first saw Josephine approaching the courtroom doors.
He remembered deciding that she looked suspicious.
He remembered becoming irritated when she asked why he was stopping her.
He remembered grabbing her clothing.
And he remembered the sharp sound of his hand striking her cheek.
At the time, he had acted as though the consequences would be determined by his own interpretation of the situation.
Now he was beginning to understand that his interpretation was only one part of the record.
Other people had their own observations.
The cameras had their own record.
The communications system had its own history.
And none of those sources could be controlled simply by insisting that he had been right.
Captain Harper's radio sounded again.
She listened, then asked the communications employee to repeat a detail.
Her expression became more serious.
CAPTAIN HARPER: "Please send the complete message to the review team. We need the original wording and the sender information."
She ended the transmission and looked at Bradley.
CAPTAIN HARPER: "The record has been located."
Bradley swallowed.
BRADLEY: "What does it say?"
CAPTAIN HARPER: "We are going to review it before drawing conclusions."
She turned toward Josephine.
CAPTAIN HARPER: "Your Honor, I believe we should move to the administrative office so that your statement can be recorded in a more appropriate setting."
JOSEPHINE: "I agree, provided the witnesses are handled separately and the footage remains preserved."
CAPTAIN HARPER: "That will be arranged."
Thomas stepped forward to accompany Josephine.
As they began walking toward the administrative office, Bradley remained behind with Captain Harper.
For the first time since the incident began, the woman he had struck was moving away from him without his permission being part of the decision.
He watched her go, unable to hide the apprehension on his face.
Thomas walked beside Josephine, maintaining a respectful distance.
THOMAS: "Your Honor, I want to apologize for what happened in that corridor."
Josephine turned slightly toward him.
JOSEPHINE: "You were not responsible for the officer's actions."
THOMAS: "I know. But I regret that you were treated that way in this building."
JOSEPHINE: "Then help ensure that the matter is handled properly."
THOMAS: "I will."
They continued toward the office.
Behind them, Captain Harper instructed another officer to remain available while the preliminary investigation proceeded.
Bradley was no longer directing the conversation.
He was waiting for the next instruction.
The shift was complete, but the investigation had only begun.
Inside the administrative office, Josephine sat at a table and placed her documents neatly beside her.
A staff member offered to bring water and arrange medical documentation of the injury to her cheek.
She accepted the water but asked that the incident report remain the immediate priority.
The clerk arrived with the preliminary notes.
Thomas stood nearby while Captain Harper prepared to take Josephine's formal statement.
CAPTAIN HARPER: "Judge Caldwell, I will ask you to describe the incident in chronological order. Please include what happened before the officer made physical contact, what was said, and what occurred afterward."
JOSEPHINE: "I was walking toward the courtroom carrying documents. Officer Miller stepped into my path and asked where I was going. I answered him."
CAPTAIN HARPER: "Did he explain why he was stopping you?"
JOSEPHINE: "Not at first. He demanded identification and questioned me about the papers I was carrying. When I asked him to explain the basis for the stop, he became increasingly confrontational."
CAPTAIN HARPER: "Did you attempt to leave?"
JOSEPHINE: "No. I remained in the corridor and asked him to explain his instructions."
CAPTAIN HARPER: "What happened next?"