Detective Pike looked down.
Naomi saw it.
She continued.
“Some of those inconsistencies may have innocent explanations.”
Keller would never have said that.
He liked certainty.
Naomi did not.
“Some may be administrative failures.”
“Some may be misconduct.”
“And some may be crimes.”
Nobody moved.
“We are going to determine which is which.”
She held up one hand.
“Effective immediately, nobody deletes anything.”
“Emails.”
“Texts.”
“Reports.”
“Drafts.”
“Body-camera files.”
“Personal notes related to task-force work.”
“Nothing.”
She looked around.
“If you make a mistake after hearing me say this, I will assume it was intentional.”
The room understood.
Nathan watched silently.
Naomi continued.
“Second.”
“If you have concerns about retaliation, you may speak directly with me, federal internal review, or designated outside counsel.”
“No command notification required.”
That produced a reaction.
Small.
But widespread.
Several people looked toward Keller’s empty office.
Naomi saw everything.
“Third.”
“Nobody is presumed guilty.”
That mattered too.
“Not Lieutenant Keller.”
“Not supervisors.”
“Not detectives.”
“Not federal personnel.”
“Evidence decides.”
She lowered her voice.
“If you came here expecting a purge, you’re going to be disappointed.”
“If you came here hoping somebody finally checks the books, you may not be.”
Nobody applauded.
Good.
Naomi hated applause in professional meetings.
It often meant people were choosing sides before facts.
She wanted no sides.
Only evidence.
Nathan concluded.
“Normal investigations continue under modified access.”
He looked toward the task force.
“Agent Brooks has my full authority.”
Then he left.
That was intentional.
He wanted Naomi’s authority to exist without him standing beside her.
Within thirty minutes, the first person came to her office.
Sergeant Melissa Grant.
She closed the door.
Naomi gestured toward the chair.
Grant remained standing.
“I need to tell you something.”
Naomi waited.
Grant looked through the glass wall toward the operations floor.
Then pulled the blinds.
“About Keller.”
Naomi said:
“Take your time.”
Grant sat.
For several seconds, she said nothing.
Then:
“He does that.”
Naomi understood.
“Physical intimidation?”
“Sometimes.”
“Who?”
Grant hesitated.
“People who don’t push back.”
Naomi’s jaw tightened.
Grant continued.
“Not usually like today.”
“What does usually mean?”
“Shoulder checks.”
“Finger in the chest.”
“Slaps files out of hands.”
“Throws reports.”
“Crowds people.”
“Calls it command presence.”
Naomi made no reaction.
“Complaints?”
Grant laughed bitterly.
“To who?”
“Professional standards.”
“Keller’s college roommate ran professional standards until last year.”
Naomi wrote that down.
“Current commander?”
“Better.”
“Do people trust him?”
Grant hesitated.
“That’s complicated.”
Naomi nodded.
“What else?”
Grant looked toward the closed blinds.
“You mentioned informants.”
“Yes.”
“There was one.”
Naomi waited.
“Name?”
Grant shook her head.