"I know that can make you look less credible."
"I know that, too."
Price lowered her voice. "Then help me understand why you're choosing that."
Maya looked toward the counter where Brett's badge still rested. "Because if I explain the card before the right records are protected, everything becomes about whether I had the right to know what was on it."
Price said nothing; Maya continued: "And once that happens, nobody asks why he was so desperate to find it."
Price wrote down the statement without comment.
Daniel shifted in his seat. "Sergeant."
Price looked toward him. "I need to tell you something."
Brett turned toward Daniel. Price stood and crossed the diner. "What is it?"
Daniel took his phone from his pocket. "When Brett first came in, I started recording."
Brett spoke immediately. "You recorded me without telling anyone?"
Daniel looked at Price. "Is that a problem?"
Price held out her hand without taking the phone. "Don't play anything yet. Tell me exactly when you started."
"After he put the badge on the counter and started saying people could end up in his report."
"Did you record the whole encounter?"
"No."
"How much?"
"Part of it. I stopped when things got more tense because I thought I might need to call someone."
"Did you edit it?"
"No."
"Send it anywhere?"
"No."
"Delete anything?"
"No."
Price nodded. "Keep the phone exactly as it is."
Brett said, "A partial recording proves nothing."
Price looked at him. "I haven't said what it proves."
"It doesn't show the context before he started recording."
"That may be true."
Daniel frowned. "It shows what he said."
"It may," Price replied. "And that matters. It also matters what it does not show."
Brett folded his arms. Price asked Daniel to describe the relevant part from memory.
"He told us that if anyone left the diner, their name would go into the suspect list in his report."
Brett said, "That still isn't detention."
Price nodded. "No, by itself, it isn't."
Daniel looked disappointed; Price continued: "But if the recording confirms the wording, then I don't have to rely only on your memory for that part."
Brett looked toward Maya. "You see what's happening? Everyone in this room has a piece, but nobody has the whole thing."
Maya answered, "Neither do you."
Price raised a hand before the argument could continue. She returned to the table and looked at Maya again.
"One more question: did you know before tonight that Brett believed you were connected to the card?"
"Yes."
"Did you know he might come here?"
"I knew it was possible."
Price stared at her. "And you came to work anyway?"
"Yes."
Brett finally smiled. "There it is."
Price turned toward him. "What?"