"Sergeant Pike," Maya said finally, her voice calm and clear. "This report claims I advanced on you aggressively and initiated physical contact." "Is that your official statement?" "That's correct," Pike replied without hesitation.
"You approached me in a threatening manner, forcing me to take defensive action."
Maya looked directly at the nearest camera, then back at Pike. "I want to make sure I understand your position. You're stating officially that I left the porch and moved toward you in an aggressive way."
Absolutely, Pike said. You came down those steps with clear, hostile intent. Officer Shaw witnessed the entire incident. Shaw nodded reluctantly.
That's what I saw. Mercer remained silent, his face troubled. Cole shifted uncomfortably behind the group. Maya folded the report and slipped it into her jacket pocket.
Naomi, would you please show Sergeant Pike the relevant footage from last evening? Naomi pulled out her tablet, already loaded with the timestamped video. She held the screen toward Pike, pressing play. The footage showed Maya standing motionless at the top of the porch steps.
Pike approached up the stairs. His hand shot out, grabbing her wrist. Maya pulled back defensively, but never advanced toward him. Pike's confident expression faltered as he watched his own actions contradicted by clear video evidence.
Cole stepped forward slightly, his face showing obvious shock. "That's not what the report says," he said quietly. "Officer Cole," Pike snapped. "Return to your vehicle."
"No, Sergeant," Cole replied, his voice growing stronger. "The report states, ‘Agent Carter approached you aggressively.’ The video shows she never left the top step. She never moved toward you at all."
Mercer studied the tablet screen with growing concern. The footage is pretty clear, he said slowly. Pike's face flushed red with anger. I don't care what some manipulated video shows.
I know what happened. Naomi rewound the footage and played it again. This is raw security data with embedded timestamps. It uploads automatically to encrypted servers.
There's no possibility of manipulation. Give me that device, Pike demanded, reaching for the tablet. Naomi pulled it back against her chest. This is private property containing federal evidence.
Mercer, help me seize that tablet, Pike ordered. Mercer shook his head firmly. Not without a warrant, Sergeant. That's FBI equipment on private property.
Pike spun toward Shaw. Then you do it. Shaw looked between Pike and the tablet, clearly torn between following orders and avoiding a federal obstruction charge. "Sergeant, maybe we should—"