“Say it’s under review.”
“They’ll ask whether you were assaulted.”
Marcus looked at her.
“Was I?”
Laura stared.
“Are you seriously asking?”
“I want precise language.”
“A sergeant slapped you.”
“Yes.”
“Kicked your knee.”
“Yes.”
“Shoved you into a counter.”
“Yes.”
“That qualifies.”
Marcus sighed.
“Fine.”
Laura sat across from him.
The nurse wrapped an ice pack in cloth and handed it over.
Marcus placed it against his cheek.
“You still think coming through the front entrance was brilliant?”
“No.”
Laura blinked.
“That easy?”
“I can be wrong.”
“I need that recorded.”
Marcus almost smiled.
Then his expression hardened.
“But not for the reason you think.”
“Meaning?”
“I shouldn’t have needed to hide my title to learn what happens here.”
Laura watched him.
He continued.
“Emily was scared to correct a sergeant.”
“Bennett saw it escalating and hesitated.”
“Polk arrived and asked me if I was okay before he asked Harlan what happened.”
“That’s good.”
“No.”
Laura frowned.
Marcus removed the ice pack.
“It’s human.”
“But supervisors should ask facts first.”
“Everyone in that lobby understood hierarchy before policy.”
Laura leaned back.
“You think this is bigger than Harlan.”
“I know it is.”
“He hit you, Marcus.”
“Yes.”
“You’re allowed to be angry at the individual.”
“I am.”
“You don’t look angry.”
Marcus almost laughed.
“My daughter says the same thing.”
“What does angry Marcus look like?”
“Organized.”
Laura stared.
“That is unsettling.”
“Good.”
His phone rang.
Maya.
Marcus looked at the screen.
Laura smiled.
“You should answer.”
“She saw the video.”
“Definitely answer.”
Marcus did.
“Hi.”
His daughter did not bother greeting him.
“Did somebody slap you at your own police station?”
Marcus closed his eyes.
“Hello to you too.”
“Dad.”
“I’m fine.”
“You got kicked.”
“Technically behind the knee.”
“That sentence does not help.”
Laura turned away to hide a laugh.
Maya continued.
“What happened?”
“Misidentification.”
“Because you did your weird secret-boss experiment?”
Marcus looked at Laura.
She raised both eyebrows.
“Maya.”
“You did.”
“I was observing.”
“You were lurking.”
“I was waiting.”
“And got body-slammed by middle management.”
“That’s inaccurate.”
“Emotionally accurate.”
Marcus smiled despite himself.
Maya’s voice softened.
“Seriously, are you okay?”
“Yes.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
A pause.
“Did he know you were chief?”