Daniel looked toward the younger officer, Marcus Ellis, who stood several desks away.
“Officer Ellis.”
Ellis stiffened.
“Yes?”
“Please contact the medical unit and request an assessment of my hands and wrists.”
Ellis moved immediately.
“Yes, sir.”
Daniel continued.
“And preserve your body-camera footage from the traffic stop.”
Ellis stopped.
He looked toward Keller.
Then back at Daniel.
“I will.”
“Do not allow anyone to access or delete it.”
Ellis nodded.
“Yes, sir.”
For the first time that morning, Daniel saw something change in the younger officer's face.
Not relief.
Recognition.
The understanding that his silence had become part of something larger than an uncomfortable traffic stop.
A few minutes later, the elevator doors opened.
Four people stepped into the processing area.
Police Chief Raymond Whitaker came first.
He was a tall Black American man in his late fifties, with close-cut gray hair and the disciplined bearing of someone who had spent nearly thirty-five years in law enforcement.
Beside him walked a federal investigator wearing a charcoal suit.
A woman carrying a leather document case followed.
The fourth person was the department's legal counsel.
Conversation stopped across the room.
Computers continued humming.
The ventilation system whispered overhead.
But nearly every officer turned to watch.
Chief Whitaker approached the counter.
His eyes moved immediately to Daniel's injured hands.
Then to the torn collar of his navy shirt.
Then to the badge lying beside the open wallet.
The chief's jaw tightened.
“Daniel.”
Daniel nodded.
“Chief.”
“Are you all right?”
“I need medical evaluation.”
Whitaker looked toward Ellis.
“Has that been requested?”
“Yes, Chief.”
“Good.”
Then he turned toward Briggs.
The heavyset officer stood rigidly beside his desk.
“Chief, I can explain.”
Whitaker held up one hand.
“Not yet.”
Briggs swallowed.
The chief looked toward Keller.
“You made the arrest?”
“Yes, sir.”
“On what basis?”
Keller straightened.
“Suspicious behavior during a traffic stop.”
“What traffic violation?”
Keller hesitated.
“Possible equipment issue.”
“Which equipment?”
“The rear light.”
“Which rear light?”
Keller's mouth tightened.
“Driver side.”
Daniel said quietly, “Both lights were functioning when I left home.”
Whitaker glanced toward him.
Then back at Keller.
“Was the vehicle inspected?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Were any defects documented?”
Keller hesitated.
“I'd need to review my report.”
The chief looked toward the federal investigator.
The man in the charcoal suit opened a folder.
Then said, “The vehicle was photographed during the secure impound inventory. Both rear lights were functioning.”
Keller's face changed.
He glanced toward Briggs.
The federal investigator continued.
“We also have the patrol vehicle's dashboard recording.”
Keller went still.
Daniel watched him.