Every second of this was evidence.
Keller looked down at the FBI wallet on the pavement.
Then, with deliberate contempt, he kicked it.
The wallet skidded across the asphalt.
Ten feet.
Fifteen.
It stopped near the front wheel of a patrol car.
Nobody breathed.
Naomi looked at him.
“Keep going.”
Keller frowned.
“What?”
“Keep going.”
Her calmness unsettled him.
She saw it.
The slightest uncertainty.
He recovered quickly.
“You threatening me?”
“No.”
“Then what does that mean?”
Naomi glanced around.
Eight detectives.
Three supervisors.
Federal analysts.
Security cameras mounted over the garage entrance.
A marked vehicle with dashboard recording active.
At least two officers wearing body cameras.
She looked directly into Keller’s eyes.
“It means everyone is watching.”
Keller turned slowly.
He saw the faces.
No laughter now.
No support.
Even officers who feared him looked uncomfortable.
He pointed toward Pike.
“You got a problem?”
Pike shook his head.
“No, sir.”
“Then quit staring.”
Pike looked away.
Keller turned to Naomi.
“There.”
He smiled.
“My people know how command works.”
Naomi said:
“I’m sure they do.”
The words sounded different this time.
Keller narrowed his eyes.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Naomi straightened her blazer.
“Nothing you need explained yet.”
Again.
Yet.
The second use landed.
Sergeant Grant noticed.
Naomi saw recognition flicker across the woman’s face.
Melissa Grant had twenty-one years in policing.
People with that much experience developed instincts.
Something was wrong.
Not with Naomi.
With the situation.
Grant stepped forward.
“Lieutenant, maybe we should take this inside.”
Keller snapped:
“Stay out of it.”
Grant stopped.
Naomi looked at her.
Noted the reaction.
Not fear exactly.
Calculation.
Grant had likely dealt with Keller’s temper before.
Keller pointed at Naomi.
“You federal types love paperwork.”
Naomi remained silent.
“You show up after the work’s done.”
“You write reports.”
“You hold meetings.”
“You tell real cops what policies they violated.”
He leaned closer.
“You know what we do?”
Naomi replied:
“Which version?”
Keller blinked.
Naomi continued.
“The official one or the one in the sealed evidence logs?”
The world stopped.
Not literally.
But everyone nearby reacted.
Pike’s face lost color.
Sergeant Grant stared at Naomi.
One analyst looked toward another.
Keller’s expression emptied completely.
For the first time, Naomi saw fear.
Tiny.
Immediate.
Gone.
But real.
Keller stepped closer.
“What did you say?”
Naomi did not repeat it.
That made it worse.
He lowered his voice.
“You’ve been talking to somebody.”
Naomi said nothing.
“Who?”
Silence.
Keller’s breathing changed.
He looked around again.
Not at the officers this time.
At cameras.
Vehicles.