He could no longer pretend that the encounter was simply a routine arrest. Ethan had identified himself, the allegation had been reported, and the small bag remained at the center of the dispute.
The officer attempted to recover his composure.
OFFICER MICHAEL HAYES: "I was conducting a lawful investigation. I discovered suspected contraband, and you became aggressive."
ETHAN WALKER: "You approached me without identifying a specific reason for suspicion. You placed the bag in my pocket, removed it, and claimed you had found it there."
OFFICER MICHAEL HAYES: "You can't prove that."
ETHAN WALKER: "The investigation will examine the evidence."
OFFICER MICHAEL HAYES: "You expect everyone to take your word for it because you're Internal Affairs?"
ETHAN WALKER: "No. I expect the facts to be examined fairly."
Michael looked away.
He had hoped that revealing his identity would somehow make Ethan abandon the accusation. Perhaps he imagined that the investigator would threaten him, declare the outcome in advance, or use his position to humiliate him.
Instead, Ethan continued to insist on the same principles he had demanded before revealing his credential.
Evidence had to be preserved.
Statements had to be examined.
And conclusions had to be supported by facts.
The officer could not dismiss those requirements simply because he disliked the possibility of facing them himself.
OFFICER MICHAEL HAYES: "You're going to destroy my career over one misunderstanding?"
ETHAN WALKER: "I'm not deciding the outcome of your career on this street."
OFFICER MICHAEL HAYES: "You know what I mean."
ETHAN WALKER: "I do. And that's why I'm telling you that the next steps must follow the proper process."
Michael's expression hardened.
OFFICER MICHAEL HAYES: "I've served this department for years."
ETHAN WALKER: "Then you know that your responsibilities are serious."
OFFICER MICHAEL HAYES: "You have no idea what this job demands."
ETHAN WALKER: "You're right. I haven't lived your entire life or experienced every difficult situation you've faced. But none of that explains why you put a bag into my pocket."
Michael said nothing.
The answer was not delivered with anger. Ethan did not attempt to insult him or dismiss the pressures of police work.
He simply refused to allow those pressures to become a blanket excuse for misconduct.
That refusal made it difficult for Michael to turn the conversation into an argument about loyalty, experience, or respect.
The issue remained exactly where it had been from the beginning.
What had happened beside the black SUV?
And why had Michael chosen to behave as he had?
Ethan glanced at the bag on the hood.
ETHAN WALKER: "Do not touch that bag again. It needs to be preserved, and its handling needs to be documented."
Michael followed his gaze.
OFFICER MICHAEL HAYES: "It's evidence. I know how to handle evidence."
ETHAN WALKER: "Then you understand why it shouldn't be handled casually after an allegation like this."
Michael's jaw tightened.
OFFICER MICHAEL HAYES: "You're acting as though you've already decided I'm guilty."
ETHAN WALKER: "I'm treating your actions as an allegation that needs to be investigated. That is not the same thing as making a final finding."
OFFICER MICHAEL HAYES: "You don't sound very neutral."
ETHAN WALKER: "I am telling you what I observed. The evidence and the applicable process will determine the findings."
Michael looked at him for a long time.
He wanted Ethan to become angry enough to make a mistake. He wanted the investigator to say something that could be interpreted as a threat or an abuse of authority.
But Ethan remained careful with his words.
The distinction mattered.
Michael had already shown how easily an encounter could be distorted when someone in authority decided that his preferred version of events mattered more than what had actually occurred.
Ethan had no intention of repeating that mistake.
He took out his phone again.
OFFICER MICHAEL HAYES: "Who are you calling now?"
ETHAN WALKER: "The appropriate supervisory channel. The incident needs to be documented, and the scene needs to be secured."
OFFICER MICHAEL HAYES: "You could have handled this privately."
ETHAN WALKER: "No. Not after what happened."
OFFICER MICHAEL HAYES: "You want everyone involved?"
ETHAN WALKER: "I want the incident handled properly."
Michael shook his head.
OFFICER MICHAEL HAYES: "You don't understand what you're starting."
Ethan finished making the call and put his phone away.