Chapter 6
Detective Marcus Vance—no relation to Arthur, despite the shared surname—stepped into the executive office with the weary, purposeful stride of a man who had spent two decades wading through municipal decay. He was dressed in a rumpled charcoal suit, carrying a worn leather folio under one arm. His eyes were sharp and tired, taking in the upscale office before fixing directly on Arthur.
“Mr. Vance? I’m Detective Marcus Vance, IA,” the detective said, flashing a silver shield before tucking it back into his jacket pocket. “My office received a high-definition video file this morning documenting an interaction between you and Officer Carl Redding at Third and Wabash.”
“Please, have a seat, Detective,” Arthur said, gesturing to the leather armchairs by the window. “Would you care for coffee or water?”
“No, thank you. Let’s skip the pleasantries,” Marcus said, sitting down and opening his folio. He placed a printed transcript of the recorded audio on the glass coffee table. “The digital file submitted to our portal is remarkably clear. It shows Officer Redding deliberately blocking your path, issuing explicit verbal threats, and abusing his station. It also matches a half-dozen prior civilian complaints against him that mysteriously stalled out over the past three years.”
Arthur sat across from him, keeping his posture relaxed. “Officer Redding has demonstrated a consistent pattern of harassment, Detective. My encounter was merely the latest in a series of incidents where he weaponized his badge against citizens who lack the means or inclination to fight back.”
Marcus studied Arthur intently, noting the faint bruise still visible on his left cheek. “I see the mark on your face, Mr. Vance. Was that sustained during your initial encounter with him a few days ago?”
“It was,” Arthur confirmed honestly. “He struck me with a metal-reinforced flashlight before kicking my personal belongings across the sidewalk.”
Marcus let out a low whistle, rubbing the back of his neck. “That crosses the line from administrative misconduct into criminal assault under color of authority. If we pull the body-worn camera footage from Redding’s partner—assuming it wasn't conveniently disabled—we might have an airtight case.”
“He was working solo on both occasions,” Arthur noted quietly. “Which is likely why he felt emboldened to act with such impunity.”
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“Of course he was,” Marcus muttered, closing his folio with a soft slap. “Officers like Redding learn how to exploit the blind spots in their own beats. But here is my concern, Mr. Vance. Once I formally pull his records and file an administrative suspension pending criminal review, the union lawyers will push back hard. They’ll scrutinize your background, your business dealings, and any possible motive you might have for targeting this specific officer.”
“Let them look,” Arthur said without a flicker of hesitation. “My ledger is clean. Can the same be said for Redding?”
