"No."
"Did you copy anything from a police system?"
Maya looked directly at her. "No."
Brett spoke again. "Ask her whether she accessed records she wasn't assigned to."
Price stood. "Officer Kellen, I have warned you twice."
"I'm giving you relevant information."
"You're interfering with an interview."
"I'm the officer whose department property is missing."
Price's expression remained controlled. "You already chose not to answer questions until your interview status is clarified. That choice does not give you the right to answer mine for other people."
Brett said nothing. Price pointed toward one of the patrol officers. "Take Officer Kellen to the far side of the room. He stays inside, but I don't want another interruption."
Brett looked at her. "That necessary?"
"Yes."
The patrol officer moved with him toward the entrance. Price sat down again.
"You said you worked with records. Where?"
Maya took a breath. "Briarwood."
"The police department?"
"Yes."
Price's expression changed slightly. "What was your position?"
"I worked with evidence records."
"Sworn?"
"No."
"Civilian?"
"Yes."
"How long ago?"
"Not long enough for me to forget how reports work."
Price studied her. "That explains the language."
"What language?"
"The way you answer questions: the distinction between what somebody said and what they meant; the way you keep narrowing everything."
Maya did not respond.
Price continued. "It also raises another question: why didn't you tell me that when I walked in?"
"Because I wanted you to look at what happened before you decided what my history meant."
Price leaned back. "You think I would have judged you differently?"
"I think people hear 'former police employee' and immediately start asking why the word 'former' is there."
Across the diner, Brett called out, "There's a reason!"
Price looked toward him. The patrol officer beside Brett said something quietly, and Brett stopped.
Price returned to Maya. "What reason?"
Maya's face remained controlled. "There's a file."
"What kind of file?"
"Personnel."
"What does it say?"
"That I accessed material outside the scope of my duties."
"Did you?"
Maya did not answer immediately. Price waited.
"I accessed a record that became a problem after I accessed it."
"That is not the same answer."
"No."
"Was the access authorized?"
Maya looked at the tabletop. "The record about that says one thing, and you say something else."