Avery’s voice softened.
“I withdrew the complaint the next morning.”
“What do you think?”
“Would you be willing to provide a statement?”
“Will it actually matter?”
Marcus thought about the question.
He refused to promise outcomes he could not guarantee.
“It will be documented.”
Avery laughed again.
“That’s not what I asked.”
Marcus took a breath.
“I can promise I will not bury it.”
“Send somebody.”
Captain Russell Dane arrived in Marcus’s temporary office at 10:30.
He closed the door.
“Captain.”
“You wanted me?”
Marcus gestured toward the chair.
Dane sat.
Fifty-five.
Broad shoulders.
Silver hair.
The comfortable confidence of someone who had occupied the same building long enough to believe parts of it belonged to him.
Marcus placed a copy of Avery’s complaint on the desk.
Dane glanced down.
His expression changed very slightly.
“You remember that?”
“Vaguely.”
“Thomas Avery.”
“Convenience-store disturbance.”
“Complaint against Harlan.”
“You met with Avery afterward.”
“I speak with complainants all the time.”
“At his business?”
Dane leaned back.
“Where is this going?”
“I’m asking questions.”
“And I’m asking why.”
Marcus almost smiled at the symmetry.
“Did you tell Avery complaints could damage an officer’s reputation?”
“I may have explained consequences.”
“Did you mention Avery’s business?”
“Avery says you suggested keeping the complaint active might make relationships difficult.”
Dane’s eyes hardened.
“Chief, I hope you aren't taking the word of every angry civilian over career officers.”
Marcus sat still.
“There’s the problem.”
“You think credibility comes with employment status.”
Dane scoffed.
“That isn't what I said.”
“You distinguished civilians from career officers before discussing evidence.”
Dane exhaled.
“So this is what your administration’s going to be?”
“Twenty years of Monday-morning quarterbacking because you got embarrassed yesterday?”
Marcus’s face changed.
Only slightly.
Dane saw it.
Marcus spoke slowly.
“Be careful.”
The captain leaned forward.
“I’m saying Harlan screwed up.”
“He’ll answer for it.”
“But now you’re digging through years of files because he happened to put hands on the wrong person.”
“The wrong person?”
Dane realized too late.
“Who would the right person have been?”
Dane looked away.
“You know what I meant.”
“I do.”
“That’s why I’m asking.”
The captain stood.
“I have patrol briefing.”
Marcus remained seated.
Dane stopped.
“You’re on administrative reassignment effective immediately.”
His eyes widened.
“Possible interference with a civilian complaint.”
“That’s ridiculous.”
“Maybe.”
“You’re suspending me over a conversation from three years ago?”
“Reassignment.”
“Pending independent review.”
“You think you can walk in here one day and tear apart this department?”
Marcus stood.
His voice remained quiet.
“I think this department has been tearing itself apart for years.”