He looked almost relieved.
Then Harmon added:
“Yet.”
His relief disappeared.
Rourke removed his pistol carefully and placed it on the hood.
The Black investigator retrieved it.
Adrian stood beside the gas pump and watched.
He did not smile.
He had spent too many years conducting integrity investigations to mistake humiliation for justice.
A bad officer losing power could feel satisfying.
That was not the purpose.
The purpose was evidence.
Patterns.
Protection.
And understanding whether the problem ended with Rourke.
It rarely did.
Harmon turned toward Mason.
“Officer Mason.”
The young officer stiffened.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“You will surrender your weapon temporarily as well.”
His eyes widened.
“I didn’t—”
“I know.”
He stopped.
Harmon continued.
“This scene involved both of you. Standard preservation.”
Mason nodded.
“Yes, ma’am.”
He complied without argument.
That mattered.
Rourke laughed bitterly.
“Look at you.”
Mason ignored him.
“Already rolling over.”
The younger officer’s jaw tightened.
Rourke continued.
“You think they care that you stood by the car?”
Mason looked at him.
“They should.”
Silence.
The answer surprised everyone.
Mason continued.
“I should’ve stopped you sooner.”
Rourke stared.
“You don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.”
Mason looked toward Adrian.
Then at the torn pouch.
“I saw you throw his wallet.”
Rourke scoffed.
“So?”
“I saw you shove him.”
“He resisted.”
Adrian said, “No.”
Rourke turned.
Adrian’s tone did not rise.
“Do not rewrite it while six cameras are still running.”
The officer looked toward the customers.
Phones.
Gas-station cameras.
Body cameras.
Cruiser camera.
Transmitter.
The evidence surrounded him.
That was intentional too.
An integrity test was strongest when no single recording had to carry the entire truth.
Harmon asked Mason:
“Did Investigator Cole resist?”
Mason swallowed.
“No.”
Rourke stared.
“You little—”
Harmon stepped between them.
“That is enough.”
The Black investigator escorted Rourke toward the second SUV.
Still not in handcuffs.
Not technically arrested.
That would come only if evidence supported criminal charges.
Professional Standards investigations had rules.
Adrian believed in those rules precisely because he investigated people accused of ignoring them.
Rourke turned before entering the vehicle.
“This was a trap.”
Adrian looked at him.
“No.”
“You put marked money in your pocket.”
“Yes.”
“You came to my district.”
“Yes.”
“You knew I’d search you.”
“No.”
“That’s the whole point.”
Adrian shook his head.
“The test was whether you would create legal grounds before searching.”
Rourke stared.
“You didn’t.”
He pointed toward the torn pouch.
“You found an object after deciding I was guilty.”