"Good. Do not alter or delete anything on it. We will address preservation lawfully."
Vance's face hardened again. "Your Honor, you're letting her walk around with evidence that could compromise active cases."
I spoke before I could stop myself.
"Then how did you know what was in the case?"
Judge Carter's eyes flicked toward me.
"Ms. Brooks, let me ask the questions."
"Yes, Your Honor."
But the question had landed.
Vance's fingers curled against the edge of the table.
Judge Carter turned back to him.
"Did the bulletin identify the contents of Ms. Brooks's briefcase?"
"It identified restricted audit material."
"Was the existence of that audit disclosed to patrol personnel?"
"I don't know."
"Were you assigned to courthouse security this morning?"
"No."
"Then why were you here?"
Silence.
That was the first crack.
Vance said he had come to deliver a subpoena return to the prosecutor's office upstairs. Judge Carter asked which prosecutor. He named Assistant District Attorney Brian Kell. A clerk called Kell's office from the courtroom phone.
Kell had no meeting with Vance.
No subpoena return was due from Vance's unit that morning.
Vance changed his explanation. He said he had been asked to check on a witness transport.
The court transport log showed no witness from his unit.
Lieutenant Ames did not move, but his expression changed.
Judge Carter's voice remained calm.
"Officer Vance, I am going to give you one opportunity to stop guessing. You are not required to incriminate yourself. You may request counsel. But do not place false statements on this record."
Vance's throat moved.
"I want union counsel."
"That request is granted. You will not be questioned further on substantive matters until counsel is available."
It would have been easy, in that moment, to turn the scene into humiliation. Vance had just been caught in two inconsistent explanations after physically grabbing me in a courthouse corridor. Judge Carter could have lectured him. Lieutenant Ames could have put him in a holding room. People in the gallery would have enjoyed seeing a bully reduced.
Instead, the judge protected the process.
That decision became more important than any speech she could have made.
"Officer Vance will wait in the attorney conference room with a deputy posted outside," she said. "He may keep his personal effects except for weapons temporarily secured for courthouse safety. His phone will not be searched without consent, warrant, or other lawful authority. He is instructed only not to delete or alter potentially relevant records after receiving this preservation notice."
She looked at Vance directly.
"Do you understand?"
He did not answer immediately.
"Officer?"
"Yes."
"Say it clearly for the record."
"Yes, Your Honor. I understand."
When the door closed behind him, Judge Carter exhaled for the first time since entering the hallway.
"Ms. Brooks, are you injured?"
"My wrist hurts. Nothing appears broken."