“Because I was watching.”
Sam’s voice remained calm.
“I have spent my career watching.”
He stepped no closer.
“I counted eighteen policy and constitutional concerns from the parking lot through this room. Detective Cole may count differently. Your counsel may disagree. Courts may ultimately decide some are not violations.”
Derek breathed faster.
“But you will no longer be the only person writing the story.”
Derek left the room.
Fast.
Daniel stepped into the hallway as he emerged.
Derek looked at him.
“You knew?”
Daniel said nothing.
“You set me up.”
“No.”
“You let me go in there.”
“Yes.”
“You wanted that recorded.”
“Yes.”
Derek stared.
Daniel’s expression hardened.
“You had nine years to decide what kind of officer you were when nobody important was watching.”
Derek’s face reddened.
“Go to hell.”
“Write that in your report.”
Derek walked away.
Captain Briggs arrived three minutes later.
“Justice Owens.”
Sam had been moved to a conference room and given water.
Patricia was now inside the building.
Briggs stood in the doorway.
“There has been a misunderstanding.”
Sam looked at him.
“No.”
Briggs stopped.
“The arrest was the result of—”
“No.”
Sam stood.