That was why the city hired him.
The next morning, Marcus arrived through the same front entrance.
Every person in the lobby saw him.
Conversation stopped.
He hated that.
Officer Porter was behind the desk.
The young man stood instantly.
“Chief.”
Marcus stopped.
“Morning.”
“Sir.”
Marcus looked at the counter.
Same laminate.
Same spot.
Someone had scrubbed it.
His briefcase had hit there.
Caldwell’s hand had been there.
Marcus turned toward Porter.
“Sit.”
Porter hesitated.
Marcus nodded.
“Sit.”
The young officer did.
Marcus walked past.
No ceremony.
By 8:15, Evelyn Warren was in his office.
She brought her grandson.
Darius was taller than Marcus expected.
Twenty-one.
Thin.
A healing scar near one eyebrow.
He did not trust Marcus.
Marcus understood immediately.
Police chiefs had probably disappointed him before meeting him.
Darius sat rigidly.
Evelyn placed the complaint folder on Marcus’s desk.
“This is everything.”
Marcus opened it.
Photographs.
Medical records.
Copies of complaint forms.
Certified-mail receipts.
Three letters from the department.
Two stated no complaint could be located.
The third said body-camera footage was unavailable because of technical corruption.
Marcus looked at Darius.
“Tell me what happened.”
Darius glanced toward his grandmother.
Then back.
“You already got the papers.”
“I asked what happened.”
Darius’s mouth tightened.
“Why?”
“Because paperwork describes an incident.”
Marcus leaned back.
“People describe what it did to them.”
Something changed slightly in Darius’s expression.
He began.
Traffic stop at 11:40 p.m.
Expired tag.
Officer claimed marijuana odor.
Darius told him there was no marijuana.
Ordered out.
Handcuffed.
He asked why.
Officer Porter? No. Different officer: James Kellan and Sergeant Caldwell arrived backup.
Search found a plastic bag containing powdered residue in the trunk.
Darius insisted it was protein supplement from a torn gym packet.
Field test supposedly positive.
He protested.
Caldwell pushed him against the patrol car.
Darius pulled one arm forward because the handcuff cut him.
They called it resisting.
He was taken to the ground.
Three ribs fractured.
Possession charge filed.
Lab later showed no narcotics.
The resisting charge remained for two weeks before prosecutors dropped it.
“What happened to the bag?” Marcus asked.
“Evidence.”
Darius laughed without humor.
“Probably became something else by now.”
Marcus did not defend the department.
“What did Caldwell say while you were on the ground?”
Darius looked toward Evelyn.
She had not known this part.
“He said…”
Darius stopped.
Marcus waited.
“He said people like me always think a camera will save them.”
Marcus felt something cold settle in his chest.
“What exactly?”
Darius looked at him.
“‘Camera won’t save you in Riverside.’”