Chapter 5
Arthur returned to his office before noon, immediately extracting the micro-recording device from his overcoat and connecting it to a secure, offline laptop. The video file loaded smoothly on the high-resolution screen, playing back the morning's confrontation with astonishing clarity. The audio captured every harsh word, every menacing pause, and the undeniable visual proof of Redding abusing his authority to intimidate a private citizen.
Elena stood behind his chair, watching the playback in absolute silence. When the video ended, she let out a long, slow breath. “The audio is crystal clear. You can hear every threat, and the visual framing shows him physically blocking your path. This isn't just a conduct violation, Arthur. This borders on official oppression and intimidation under color of law.”
“It’s enough to initiate a formal internal affairs grievance with independent legal backing,” Arthur said, spinning the laptop slightly toward her. “Combined with his prior uninvestigated complaints, this establishes a clear pattern of targeted misconduct.”
“If you file this through official channels, it will trigger an immediate mandatory review,” Elena pointed out, her voice tinged with professional caution. “The department will be forced to respond, but it will also put a massive target on your back. Redding and his precinct brothers won't take this lying down. They protect their own culture of silence.”
“Let them try to close ranks,” Arthur replied coldly, standing up to gaze out at the sprawling city skyline. “Institutional corruption thrives in the dark because people assume fighting back is too exhausting or dangerous. I have the resources, the patience, and now the evidence to prove that badge 316 does not exempt anyone from the rule of law.”
Just as Elena opened her mouth to reply, her desk phone buzzed shrilly. She walked out to answer it, returning a moment later with a tense expression on her face. “Arthur, you have a visitor downstairs security desk. A man identifying himself as Detective Vance—wait, no, Detective Marcus Vance, internal affairs division. He says he received an anonymous digital submission regarding Officer Carl Redding, and he wants to speak with you immediately.”
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Arthur turned slowly from the window, a faint, thoughtful smile touching the corner of his mouth. The machine of justice, sluggish and reluctant as it often was, had just begun to turn.
“Send him up, Elena,” Arthur said quietly. “It appears our timeline just accelerated.”
