He entered quickly.
Looked at my soaked suit.
Then at the officers standing around the room.
For a moment, he seemed unable to speak.
"Investigator Vance?"
I nodded.
He extended his hand.
"Lieutenant Whitaker. I understand there's been some confusion."
I looked toward Rourke.
"That's one word for it."
Whitaker's expression tightened.
He glanced at Keller.
The sergeant looked away.
Whitaker turned back to me.
"Perhaps we could discuss this in my office."
"Certainly."
I lifted my briefcase.
Then paused.
"After someone secures the relevant recordings."
Whitaker nodded too quickly.
"Of course."
I looked toward Ortiz.
"Officer Ortiz has already identified potential body-camera evidence."
The lieutenant's eyes moved toward her.
For a brief instant, I noticed something unusual.
Not surprise.
Displeasure.
It vanished almost immediately.
Whitaker forced a smile.
"Excellent."
I looked toward Rourke.
"Officer Rourke should also provide a statement."
Whitaker nodded.
"We'll handle that internally."
I shook my head.
"The incident involves alleged misconduct against a state investigator during an authorized inquiry. Any internal process will need to be coordinated with the appropriate independent authorities."
His smile faded.
"Understood."
I did not raise my voice.
There was no need.
A badge did not make me superior to the officers in that room.
It did not give me permission to humiliate them in return.
But it did represent a responsibility they had apparently forgotten.
The authority to investigate public officials who might have abused their power.
And the duty to document what I witnessed even when the person responsible suddenly became cooperative.
Whitaker led me through the hallway.
As we walked, officers looked up from their desks.
Some stared at my stained shirt.
Others noticed the black credential holder in my hand.
Whispers followed us.
At the end of the corridor, we entered a glass-walled office overlooking the main operations floor.
Whitaker closed the door.
Then turned.
"Investigator, first let me apologize for what happened."
I nodded.
"Thank you."
He seemed relieved.
Then continued.
"Officer Rourke can be overly enthusiastic."
I studied him.
"Enthusiastic?"
Whitaker hesitated.
"He sometimes takes practical jokes too far."
I looked down at the coffee staining my shirt.
Then back at him.
"Does he regularly pour drinks over people?"
The lieutenant shifted.
"No."
"Shove them?"
"Of course not."
"Then perhaps this wasn't a practical joke."
Whitaker's jaw tightened.
I continued.
"An officer deliberately poured a drink over a person he believed had no authority here. He then made unwanted physical contact while other officers laughed."