He knew the signs.
A witness who answered too quickly.
A supervisor who explained what happened before anyone asked.
A person who became angry the instant a simple question threatened a carefully constructed story.
But he had never expected to study those signs while sitting on his own front porch with coffee drying across his trousers.
The woman in the navy suit was Deputy Director Anna Price, a former state investigator who had recently joined the city inspector general's office.
She and Marcus had been scheduled to meet that morning to prepare for the oversight program's first week.
The two other vehicles belonged to municipal investigators and administrative staff who had been traveling with her from a nearby briefing location. When Renee called to report the confrontation, Anna had diverted the group to the house and contacted the police department's operations desk to clarify the incident.
The preliminary information she'd received was troubling.
The original caller had reported a suspicious person near a vacant property several blocks away.
The location had later been changed in a supplemental dispatch entry.
There was no reliable explanation yet for the alteration.
Anna knew better than to draw conclusions from an incomplete log.
But she knew enough to preserve it.
She looked toward Derek.
"Officer, is your body camera operating?"
He hesitated.
"Yes."
"Good. Don't turn it off. Your supervisor is being contacted."
Derek looked toward Marcus.
"Sir, I can explain."
Marcus lowered his hands.
"Then begin by explaining why you kicked my chair."
Derek's mouth opened.
Nothing came out.
"Explain why you shoved me."
"Your movements wereβ"
"My hands were raised."
Derek swallowed.
Marcus continued.
"Explain why you threatened the boy who was recording."
"He was interfering."
Evan spoke from the porch railing.
"I didn't say anything."
Derek turned sharply.
"Stay out of this!"
Anna immediately stepped forward.
"Officer, do not address the witness that way."
Derek looked at her.
His expression shifted between frustration and fear.
Marcus could see the effort he was making to recover control of the situation.
The officer was accustomed to being the person asking questions.
Now everyone was asking questions of him.
He glanced toward his cruiser.
"Can I radio my supervisor?"
Anna nodded.