Camille looked toward him.
For a moment, her expression didn't change.
Then she answered.
"That's true."
He nodded quickly.
"I thought the car might be stolen."
She held his gaze.
"Then why did you continue after dispatch verified the registration?"
Voss hesitated.
He looked toward Rowan.
The captain remained silent.
Then toward Cross.
The lieutenant didn't intervene.
Finally, Voss answered.
"I believed there might be additional information."
Camille nodded slowly.
"What information?"
He opened his mouth.
Then closed it.
She waited.
For several seconds, the room was quiet.
Then she asked another question.
"What emergency required breaking multiple windows?"
Voss swallowed.
He began explaining that the driver had been uncooperative.
Camille interrupted gently.
"Sergeant, you can address those questions in your formal statement."
He stopped.
She continued.
"This isn't a disciplinary hearing. I'm not going to conduct an investigation into my own complaint."
Voss looked surprised.
For a moment, he seemed relieved.
Then Camille explained that an independent review would examine the encounter, including her conduct, his conduct, the younger deputy's actions, and the available evidence.
The relief disappeared.
She wasn't dismissing the incident.
She was making sure the process could withstand scrutiny.
Rowan placed a folder on the table.
Inside were preliminary records from the afternoon.
The dispatch updates.
The incident number.
And an initial request to preserve the body-camera recordings.
Camille didn't open the folder.
She'd already recused herself from substantive decisions concerning the incident.
Instead, she addressed the broader administrative issue.
"Sergeant Voss, your patrol assignment will be reviewed through the appropriate process. You'll receive formal instructions from the responsible authority."
He looked toward her.
His face was pale.
"Am I being fired?"
Camille considered the question.
"No decision like that is being made in this room tonight."
He exhaled.
Then she continued.
"But you need to understand that I expect complete honesty and cooperation with the review."
Voss nodded.
"Yes, Sheriff."
She looked toward Rowan.
The captain took over the procedural instructions.
Voss listened without speaking.
When he was dismissed, he moved toward the door.
Then stopped.
He turned back.
For a moment, his expression seemed almost pleading.
"Sheriff, if I'd knownβ"
Camille looked directly at him.
She didn't raise her voice.
She didn't insult him.
She simply asked.
"If you'd known what?"
Voss froze.
He'd been about to say that he would have treated her differently.
Now he realized how terrible that answer sounded.
Camille waited.
Finally, she said quietly.
"That's the question you should think about."
The sergeant lowered his eyes.
Then left.
After the door closed, Rowan sat heavily in a chair.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then the captain looked toward Camille.
"That went better than I expected."
She gave a tired smile.
"Did it?"
Rowan nodded.
"You kept the meeting focused."
Camille looked toward the empty doorway.