The booking officer hesitated, then positioned Camille against a height chart. Pike stood close enough to enter every frame. He ordered her to turn left, then right, as if documenting a stranger whose identity remained unknowable.
On a nearby terminal, Van began an incident supplement. Camille could see only pieces reflected in the dark window: Initial state return clear. Local caution displayed. Driver compliant until removal.
Pike noticed her watching and stepped between them. "Caleb, conference room. Now."
The door did not close completely behind them.
"The vehicle recovery review is Monday," Pike said in a controlled whisper. "Chief Kerr needs numbers before the city manager approves the new interdiction unit. We do not throw away a high-value recovery because the rider bought convincing credentials."
"The state database did not call it stolen. The local caution flagged a cloned plate connected to a theft series. That gives us the stop."
"It appeared after I read you the clear return."
Silence followed. Then Pike's voice hardened. "You want your probation evaluation signed? Write what happened: she refused commands, reached toward her jacket, and produced suspected stolen police property. Those are facts."
"That isn't the order it happened."
Pike stepped back into the processing room carrying Van's notebook. He placed it beside his computer, but kept one palm over it.
The desk phone rang. The booking officer answered, listened, then held the receiver toward Pike: "Communications supervisor, Laya Gomez."
Pike switched the call to speaker.
"Officer Pike," Laya said, "the state vehicle return is valid and clear. Your unit added a local investigative caution afterward. I need the originating case number for the audit field."
Pike looked at Camille. "The originating case is being generated now," he said. "Officer safety information developed during surveillance."
"Your unit was not logged on a surveillance assignment."
"Then log it as patrol intelligence and stop discussing an active investigation on speaker."
Laya's tone remained neutral. "I'll preserve the original event sequence with your correction."