“Why does this matter?”
Camille hesitated.
“Because Dana told internal investigators she had never heard the Carter name before.”
Evelyn looked up.
“That could be true.”
“Could.”
“Marcus Carter isn’t uncommon.”
“Also true.”
Camille pushed another document forward.
“Then I found this.”
It was an incident report dated six years earlier.
Officer Dana Whitmore.
Paramedic Marcus Carter.
Same call.
A domestic disturbance.
Marcus had signed the medical refusal form as the responding medic.
Dana had signed as officer.
Danielle whispered, “They worked together.”
“Yes.”
“So she lied again.”
“Maybe she forgot.”
Evelyn looked at Camille.
“You don’t believe that.”
“I don’t know what I believe yet.”
Evelyn nodded.
Good lawyer.
Facts before conclusions.
The explanation came from someone no one expected.
Former officer Anthony Vega called Danielle two days later.
He had retired from Brookhaven Police the previous year after twenty-seven years.
“I worked with Marcus,” he said.
Danielle knew his name immediately.
Marcus had mentioned Tony countless times.
“Of course.”
“There’s something you should know about Dana.”
Danielle’s stomach tightened.
“What?”
“Your husband filed a complaint against her.”
Silence.
“When?”
“Six years ago.”
Danielle sat down.
“For what?”
Anthony sighed.
“That domestic call.”
The incident had involved a seventeen-year-old girl named Tessa Morgan.
Her stepfather called police claiming she was out of control.
Dana arrived first.
By the time Marcus’s ambulance came, Tessa was handcuffed on a kitchen floor.
She had a cut near her mouth.
Dana reported that Tessa kicked an officer and struck the cabinet while resisting.
Marcus examined her.
Something did not fit.
The injury pattern.
The witness accounts.
Most importantly, Tessa told him Dana shoved her before handcuffing her.
Marcus did what he believed was required.
He documented it.
Then notified his supervisor.
The complaint reached police command.
“Was it sustained?” Danielle asked.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Body camera didn’t capture the beginning.”
Of course.
Danielle closed her eyes.
“Did Marcus know that?”
“Yes.”
“What happened?”
“Dana hated him.”
Anthony paused.
“That’s probably too strong.”
“No. Keep going.”
“She believed he made her look dishonest.”
“Was she?”
Anthony hesitated.
“I wasn’t there.”
“Tony.”
“I think she lost her temper.”
Danielle looked toward Marcus’s photograph on the shelf.
“Did he ever tell you about it?”
“No.”