"It is important."
"Then let me preserve that point accurately, instead of arguing about it."
Brett's mouth tightened. Price turned toward Caleb.
"Mr. Ross, you're next. I want to know exactly when you stood up, exactly when you moved toward Officer Kellen, and exactly why."
Caleb nodded. Before he spoke, Maya looked across the diner at him; Price caught the look. Then she looked back at Brett for the first time since arriving.
She had not asked anyone in the room to trust a badge, a waitress, an old soldier, or a frightened witness: she had asked them only to describe what they could prove they had seen. Brett could refuse to give Price his version for now; he could not stop her from collecting everyone else's.
Price motioned Maya toward a table near the front window, far enough from Brett that he could not easily interrupt. Maya sat down. Price remained standing for a moment, then pulled out the chair across from her.
"I'm going to ask simple questions first."
"All right."
"Did you know Officer Kellen before tonight?"
"Yes."
"How?"
Maya looked toward Brett briefly; Price noticed. "Answer me. Not him."
"I knew him through previous work."
"What kind of work?"
"Records."
Price waited; Maya did not add anything. "Police records?"
"Some of them."
Brett shifted across the diner. Price looked toward him. "Stay where you are."
"I'm staying."
She turned back to Maya. "When Brett came through that door, did you know what he was looking for?"
Maya paused. "I knew what he believed he was looking for."
Price stopped writing. "That is a careful answer."
"It is an accurate one."
"Do you possess department property?"
"I did not take anything from the Briarwood Police Department."
Price looked up. "That wasn't my question."
Brett spoke from behind her. "Exactly."
Price turned. "Officer Kellen."
He raised both hands slightly and stepped back. Price returned her attention to Maya.
"Do you currently possess anything that Brett claims belongs to the department?"
"I don't know what he legally considers department property."
"You heard him refer to a card?"
"Yes."
"Do you know what card he means?"
Maya hesitated again. "Yes."
Daniel looked over from the counter; Price noticed, but kept her attention on Maya.
"What kind of card?"
"I'm not answering that yet."
Price closed her notebook halfway. "You understand how that sounds?"
"I do."
"You want me to evaluate whether Brett had a legitimate reason to be here, but you won't tell me what he came for."
"I want you to evaluate what he actually did here."
"That's part of it. It isn't all of it."
Maya folded her hands on the table.
Price continued. "Did somebody give you the card?"
"I'm not answering that yet, either."
"Did you steal it?"