Chapter 7 - The Room Changes Hands
Captain Briggs entered the interview room without hurry.
That made his anger more visible, not less.
He looked first at Commander Grant’s torn uniform and cuffed wrists. Then at the cut near his eye. Then at the sealed case on the table.
“Remove the cuffs,” he said.
The local supervisor looked toward Maddox.
Maddox answered first. “He is being held pending investigation.”
Briggs turned to him.
“You are no longer directing this room.”
Maddox’s mouth tightened. “This is county jurisdiction.”
Lieutenant Commander Hayes stepped forward.
“The detained individual is a federal officer on documented duty. The case is controlled federal property. Your department was warned before transport and again during detention.”
Maddox pointed toward Grant. “He made a sudden movement.”
Norris stood in the doorway.
Everyone looked at him.
His face had gone pale, but he did not lower his eyes this time.
“His hands were raised,” Norris said.
Maddox stared at him.
“Caleb.”
Norris swallowed.
“You fired while his hands were up.”
The room went quiet.
Hayes placed the tablet on the metal table but kept the screen angled away from unnecessary viewers.
“Bodycam audio confirms that statement. Roadside video confirms hand position. Dispatch records show Commander Grant was targeted before the stop.”
The supervisor looked at Maddox.
“Targeted?”
Maddox tried to recover.
“This was routine patrol.”
Hayes raised the folder.
“Six dispatch orders, bodycam audio, and the roadside video say otherwise.”
Grant watched the lie collapse.
Not dramatically.
May you like
Administratively.
The most dangerous kind.
