“Tomorrow morning, you’re going to sit in on Cross and Hale’s interviews.”
Harlan stared at him.
“Why?”
“Because you helped create the situation that kept those interviews from happening.”
Harlan’s face tightened.
“You want me to question them?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
“I want you to listen.”
Harlan did not look pleased.
“Chief—”
“You told me you were beginning to understand.”
Julian opened his notebook.
“Let’s find out.”
Cross entered the next morning at 8:30. He was younger than Harlan, older than Owen, and carried himself with the confidence of someone accustomed to being considered competent. Julian had already reviewed his personnel history. Good productivity. Strong arrest numbers. Several commendations. Few complaints. The Alvarez complaint had been the most serious. Or would have been, had anyone investigated it.
Before the questions began, counsel reviewed the administrative process and the arrangements for representation. Cross had received notice of the subjects to be covered. His account would be recorded, and he could identify additional evidence or request corrections to the transcript.
Harlan was present to listen, not to direct Cross’s answers. He had already submitted his own statement separately. Julian made that limitation explicit and watched Cross register it.
There would be no familiar signal from the wall, no interruption to soften a question, no shared joke to change the room. Cross could disagree with a conclusion when one was reached. First, he had to answer for the encounter on the recording. Cross sat across from Julian. Harlan took a chair near the wall. The city’s legal counsel participated by phone.
Julian placed the complaint on the desk.
“You know why we’re here?”
Cross glanced at Harlan. Julian noticed.
“Yes.”
“Tell me about the Alvarez stop.”
Cross leaned back.
“Suspicious-person call. We located someone matching the description.”
“What description?”
“Young male with a backpack.”
“In an apartment complex.”
“Yes.”
“Anything else?”
Cross paused.
“No.”
“You checked his ID?”
“Yes.”
“Address?”
Cross’s expression changed slightly.
“He lived there.”
“When did you learn that?”
“Pretty early.”
“Before or after searching the backpack?”
Cross looked toward the complaint.
“I’d have to review the video.”
“You already did.”
Cross looked up. Julian kept his voice neutral.
“Yesterday afternoon.”
Cross’s shoulders stiffened. Harlan remained still against the wall. Julian continued.
“You learned Alvarez lived in the complex before searching his backpack.”
“Yes.”
“Why continue?”
“People can live somewhere and still commit crimes.”
“Was there evidence of a crime?”
“No.”
“Did he consent to the search?”
“He opened the bag.”
“I asked whether he consented.”
Cross’s mouth tightened.
“He asked whether he had to.”
“And you said?”
“I don’t remember exactly.”
Julian slid a transcript across the desk. Cross did not pick it up.
“You asked whether he wanted to make things difficult.”
Cross exhaled.
“Chief, we say things on the street. Sometimes you have to establish control.”
Harlan moved slightly in his chair. Julian looked at Cross.
“Control of what?”
“The encounter.”
“Why?”
Cross frowned.
“Because we didn’t know what we had.”
“You had his identification.”
Cross said nothing.
“You had his address.”
Silence.
“You had no report of a crime.”
Cross’s jaw tightened. Julian continued.
“You took his phone.”
“For officer safety.”
“What did he do with it?”
“He started using it.”
“He held it.”
Cross leaned forward.
“Chief, you weren’t there.”
Harlan’s eyes lifted. Julian did not react.
“No. I have two camera angles.”
Cross sat back. The room settled. Julian waited until Cross looked at him again.
“Mateo told you he had a scholarship interview and didn’t want trouble attached to his name.”
“Yes.”
“You told him, ‘Then don’t make trouble.’”
“I meant cooperate.”
“That isn’t what you said.”
“He was cooperating.”
“That’s exactly the point.”
Cross looked toward Harlan again. This time Harlan looked down. Julian saw it. So did Cross. Something changed. Cross had expected an ally. What he found was silence.
“Why wasn’t the complaint investigated?” Cross asked.
“That’s part of a separate review.”
“I was told it was being handled.”
“By whom?”
Cross glanced at Harlan. Harlan finally looked at him. Neither man spoke. Julian said, “Officer Cross?”
“Sergeant Harlan.”
Harlan’s face did not move. Cross continued.
“He said not to worry about it.”
Harlan looked toward Julian. Julian asked, “Sergeant?” Harlan’s voice was low.
“I said that.”
Cross turned toward him.
“You said it was exaggerated.”
Harlan took a breath.
“Yes.”
“You said Brandt would deal with it.”
“Yes.”
“You told me it wasn’t going anywhere.”