Holloway arrived without uniform.
Plain blouse.
Dark trousers.
No badge visible.
She looked exhausted.
Warren had not seen her closely since the airport.
She sat across from him.
For several seconds neither spoke.
Then she said, “I’m sorry.”
Warren waited.
She did not add if.
No misunderstanding.
No explanation.
Just:
“I’m sorry.”
He nodded.
“Thank you.”
She looked down.
“I should’ve stopped it sooner.”
“Yes.”
The answer surprised her.
Perhaps she expected comfort.
Warren was not cruel.
But he would not relieve her of truth.
Holloway swallowed.
“I knew the description was weak.”
“Did you know the full description?”
“No.”
“I believe you.”
She looked up.
“That almost makes it worse.”
“Why?”
“Because I still knew enough.”
Warren said nothing.
She continued.
“When he opened your bag, I knew we were going too far.”
“Yes.”
“When Captain Doyle arrived, I thought he would slow it down.”
“He didn’t.”
“No.”
She rubbed her hands together.
“I kept thinking the situation was one sentence away from getting fixed.”
Warren leaned back.
“One sentence from whom?”
Holloway looked at him.
That question hurt.
He could tell.
“Me,” she said eventually.
“Yes.”
Her eyes filled.
“I said some things.”
“You did.”
“But not enough.”
“No.”
Silence.
Then Holloway said the part Warren had hoped she would reach without prompting.
“When I opened your credential, I panicked.”
“Why?”
“Because you were a judge.”
“Yes.”
“And I realized what this could become.”
Warren waited.
She looked ashamed.
“That’s the part I keep thinking about.”
“What?”
“If the wallet had said warehouse supervisor.”
Warren felt something tighten in his chest.
Holloway continued.
“Or teacher.”
He said nothing.
“Or nothing but a driver’s license.”
Her voice broke slightly.
“I don’t know if I would’ve fought as hard to stop what happened next.”
Warren looked at her for a long time.
“That is why I agreed to meet you.”
She wiped one eye.
“I don’t expect forgiveness.”
“This is not about that.”
“I know.”
“No.”
Warren leaned forward.
“I don’t think you do.”
She looked at him.
“Forgiveness is personal.”
He spoke carefully.
“Accountability is institutional.”
Holloway nodded slowly.
“You can be sorry and still need consequences.”
“I understand.”
“You can also have failed and still choose what kind of officer you become next.”
Her eyes shifted.
Warren continued.
“The public argument will want you to be either hero or villain.”
Holloway looked down.