She hated it.
“You're involved.”
“Yes.”
“You’re also assigned to the Briar Ridge contracting investigation.”
“Yes.”
“You can’t touch it now.”
Nadia’s jaw tightened.
“I know.”
“Say it.”
She looked toward Holt.
“I recuse.”
“Fully.”
“Fully.”
Holt nodded.
Good.
Nadia leaned back.
The federal investigation already underway had nothing to do with her house.
At least not directly.
For six months, Nadia’s unit had been investigating a network of municipal contracting fraud involving security systems, towing services, evidence-storage vendors, and city procurement officers across three Dallas-area municipalities.
Briar Ridge was one of them.
The case began when a whistleblower from a towing company alleged that officers were directing high-value impounds to favored lots in exchange for kickbacks disguised as consulting payments.
That led to invoices.
Then shell companies.
Then a city procurement manager.
Then two police officers.
Then a lieutenant.
Not Renner.
Another supervisor.
Nadia had been careful not to work publicly in Briar Ridge because her home purchase was already pending there.
She had disclosed the conflict.
Her role remained analytical and supervisory.
The arrest phase was not scheduled for another three weeks.
Now one of the department’s officers had allegedly mistreated her personally.
That created a contamination risk.
She could not participate further in decisions involving Briar Ridge personnel.
Holt took over.
Nadia hated losing control of work.
She hated even more knowing recusal was correct.
The irony of demanding neutral procedures from Adams while refusing one herself would have been intolerable.
By noon, the neighborhood had transformed into a media event.
Someone uploaded video.
Of course.
The clip began with Adams already holding the hose.
Nadia stood soaked on the lawn.
The caption:
COP SPRAYS BLACK HOMEOWNER WITH HOSE AFTER TELLING HER TO LEAVE HER OWN HOUSE.
Millions of views before dinner.
Then the second clip appeared.
The FBI SUVs.
Badge reveal.
Adams’s face.
That became the viral moment.
WAIT UNTIL HE FINDS OUT WHO SHE IS.
Nadia hated that one more.
Marcus Bell, the Latino agent from the SUV, called at 6:30.
“You seeing this?”
“Yes.”
“You should not.”
“I’m aware.”
“Turn your phone off.”
“No.”
“Nadia.”
“Marcus.”
He sighed.
“The comments are awful.”
“Which direction?”
“Both.”
Of course.
Some defended her only because she was FBI.
Others accused her of weaponizing federal status against a local cop.
Some insisted the hose was harmless.
Some called it assault.
Some called for Adams’s immediate imprisonment.
Some claimed Nadia had staged the entire event.
One person analyzed the wetness pattern on her shirt as though conducting forensic hydrology.
Human beings could make anything ridiculous.
Nadia closed the app.
Marcus continued:
“Karen says don't talk to press.”
“I know.”
“Union rep for Adams is already giving statements.”
“What are they saying?”
“That he used minimal non-injurious water pressure to compel movement after repeated noncompliance during a legitimate property-crime investigation.”
Nadia stared at the wall.
“Minimal non-injurious water pressure.”
“Yeah.”
“That's creative.”
“Lawyers.”
Nadia rubbed her face.
“What does his bodycam show?”
“Can't discuss.”
“I’m recused, not dead.”
“You're recused.”
She knew he was right.
“Fine.”
Marcus softened.
“You really okay?”