"I say there are versions of records."
Price remained still. "What does that mean?"
"It means the last version of a record is not always the first version."
Brett heard enough to speak again. "Used to work with evidence records," he said. "That's the part you need to pay attention to."
Price turned toward him. "Officer Kellen, one more interruption and you wait outside with an officer."
Brett's expression hardened, but he stayed quiet.
Price looked back at Maya. "Do you have a personal dispute with him?"
"No."
"You expect me to believe there is no history between you?"
"I didn't say there was no history. I said this isn't personal."
"Then what is it?"
Maya glanced toward the counter where Brett's badge still rested. "Something he doesn't want examined."
Price opened her notebook again. "Now we're getting somewhere. What is on the card?"
"I didn't say I had seen what's on it."
"Do you know what's supposed to be on it?"
"Yes."
"What?"
"Internal data."
"From what?"
Maya did not answer. Price waited several seconds. Maya shook her head. "Not yet."
Brett gave a short laugh from across the diner. Price ignored him.
"Officer Kellen says the card contains sensitive department material."
"That is what he says."
"Is he wrong?"
Maya looked at her. "He is being very careful about the words he uses."
Price wrote that down. "So are you."
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because words become reports."
Price closed the notebook. For the first time since entering Magnolia Road Diner, she had a clearer picture of why Brett had come there, but it created more questions than answers: Maya was not simply a waitress who happened to be caught in a police dispute; she had worked inside the same record system Brett now claimed had been compromised.
Price looked toward Brett. He was no longer watching Caleb; he was watching Maya—not because she had challenged his authority, but because she knew enough to challenge his version of what existed before he entered the diner.
Price asked Maya to remain at the table while she moved back toward Daniel.
"I need to go over your statement again."
Daniel nodded. "All right."
"When Officer Kellen came in, did he tell you that you were detained?"
"No."
"Did he physically block the door?"
"No."
"Did he tell you that you could not leave?"
"Not in those words."
Price wrote that down. "What did he say?"
"He said anyone who walked out would have their name added to the suspect list in his report."
"Did that make you believe you were free to leave?"
Daniel looked toward Brett, then back at Price. "Technically, maybe. Practically, no."
Brett spoke from the other side of the diner. "That's an interpretation."
Price looked at Daniel. "He's right about one thing: I need to separate what you heard from what you concluded. Tell me only what happened."
Daniel nodded. "He pointed toward the door. He said anyone leaving would go on the suspect list. I decided not to leave."
"Did he threaten to arrest you?"