Mercer waited.
"Our seats." Grace glanced at her. Maya continued, "The record came with us."
Mercer shook his head. "You still think that flight log is going to decide what happens?"
"No."
"Then what do you think decides it?"
"Whoever reviews all the evidence."
Mercer's confidence returned. "Good luck."
Maya did not answer.
A moment later, movement came from the jet bridge outside. Laura stepped away from the door as Captain Shaw joined her. Mercer straightened in his seat and adjusted his jacket again, making the badge at his belt easy to see. Grace watched him prepare to meet the officers he believed he had summoned.
Cole watched, too. But his expression was different: he knew about the database searches, his own supplemental statement, and the captain's flight log. He also knew Mercer had no idea that his access had been flagged.
The cabin door opened. Mercer looked directly toward the jet bridge. He was ready for officers to enter and question Maya Williams and Grace Turner.
The first person who appeared at the doorway was someone Mercer recognized immediately. His posture changed before the man said a single word.
The man at the aircraft door wore a dark suit and carried no visible police equipment. Mercer recognized him from departmental meetings: Lieutenant Mark Ellison worked with Internal Affairs.
Two investigators followed him into the cabin. Behind them came a representative from Northstar Airways Security and a federal investigator carrying an identification wallet.
Mercer stood. "What is this?"
Ellison looked directly at him. "Sergeant Mercer, remain seated."
Mercer hesitated before lowering himself back into seat 2A. "I requested airport officers for two passengers."
"We know."
"They're farther back."
"We know that, too."
Mercer looked past Ellison toward the jet bridge, expecting another group to appear. No one moved toward Maya or Grace. His expression changed.
Ellison stepped closer. "We also know you accessed restricted law enforcement databases during this flight."
Mercer stared at him for several seconds. He said nothing. Then he looked toward Cole. Cole remained seated.
Mercer turned back to Ellison. "It was an officer safety inquiry."
Captain Shaw stepped forward from the galley. "There was no officer safety incident aboard this aircraft."
Mercer looked at her. "That's your assessment."
"That is my flight log."
Laura moved beside the captain. "I observed the seating dispute from the beginning. Neither passenger made a verbal threat, physical threat, or attempt to interfere with crew duties."
Mercer pointed toward the rear cabin. "They were confrontational."
Laura shook her head. "They objected to losing confirmed seats."
"That became a law enforcement concern."
Cole spoke from several rows away. "No case number existed."
Mercer turned toward him.
Cole continued. "There was no arrest, no warrant, and no active investigation when you searched them."
Mercer's voice sharpened. "Stay out of this."
Ellison immediately responded. "Officer Cole has already provided a statement."
Mercer looked back at him. "You gave Internal Affairs a statement?"
"I gave the captain a statement about what I saw."
Mercer stood again. Ellison raised one hand. "Sit down, Sergeant."
"I'm not under arrest."
"No one said you were."
"Then I'm allowed to stand."
"You are also aboard a commercial aircraft where the captain has instructed the involved parties to remain in place."
Captain Shaw said, "That instruction still applies."
Mercer sat. The badge at his belt remained visible, but no one treated him differently because of it.
The federal investigator stepped forward. "My name is Special Agent Karen Holt. We're reviewing access involving a restricted law enforcement information system."
Mercer looked at her. "I had a legitimate reason."
"Then you'll have an opportunity to explain it."
"I already did. Officer safety."
Holt opened a folder. "What threat existed before the first database query?"
Mercer did not answer immediately. "Maya Williams had demonstrated unusual knowledge of legal and security procedures." Holt waited. Mercer continued, "She was preparing a complaint against two police officers. I needed to know who we were dealing with."
Cole looked down.
Holt asked, "Was Miss Williams suspected of a crime?"
"No."
"Was Grace Turner?"
"No."
"Were either of them subjects of an active investigation?"
"Not at that point."
Holt looked up. "At what point did that change?"
Mercer paused. "They became the subjects of my security concern."
"Before or after you searched them?"
Mercer said nothing.
Holt closed the folder. "That sequence is one reason we're here."
Mercer turned toward Captain Shaw. "You gave them my flight information."
Shaw remained calm. "I preserved the records I was instructed to preserve."
"Who instructed you?"
Ellison answered. "That isn't relevant to what you need to do right now."
Mercer looked around the cabin. Passengers farther back were still waiting to leave. Maya and Grace remained seated without speaking.
Mercer pointed toward them. "I requested law enforcement because of those passengers."
Ellison nodded. "Yes."
"Then why is nobody questioning them?"
"They will be asked for statements as witnesses and involved passengers."
Mercer's face tightened. "Witnesses? For now?" Mercer leaned forward. "You're treating me like the subject."
Ellison looked directly at him. "You are the subject of an administrative review into your use of department authority and restricted data access."
The cabin became quiet. Mercer stared at him. "This is because Cole complained."
"No." Ellison's answer came immediately. "The system flagged your activity before his statement reached us."
Mercer's expression changed again.
Holt continued. "Multiple searches were conducted using your credentials. There was no case number attached, no dispatch event, no duty assignment, and no documented threat from the flight crew."
Mercer looked at Cole. "You knew about this?"
Cole shook his head. "I knew what you were doing was wrong. I didn't know who was reviewing it."