"Did supervisors know?"
The former officer looked at her.
"Everybody knew."
That answer stayed with Naomi.
The Beach Experiment
The city attorney's office eventually authorized a controlled observation.
Naomi volunteered.
She chose the beach because she wanted to understand the encounter from the beginning.
Not after a complaint.
Not after an arrest.
Not after an argument.
From the moment Crowley first decided someone looked suspicious.
Rebecca Sloan objected.
"You don't have to put yourself in danger."
"I won't be alone."
"You'll be visibly alone."
"That's the point."
The team positioned themselves nearby.
Marcus Hale watched from the boardwalk.
Thomas Reed waited near a parking structure.
Rebecca remained inside an unmarked vehicle with communications equipment.
Naomi sat on the sand.
For twenty minutes, nothing happened.
Then Crowley appeared.
He didn't approach the family sitting beneath a large umbrella.
He ignored the group of college students.
He walked directly toward Naomi.
Exactly as she had predicted.
She watched him approach.
And suddenly she understood something.
Crowley wasn't looking at the beach.
He was looking at her.
At her skin.
At the fact that she was alone.
At the absence of a husband, children, or friends.
He had already made his decision.
Naomi lowered her sunglasses.
The confrontation began.
And this time, there would be no missing minutes.
The Folder
When Crowley saw the folder, he recognized some of the photographs.
One showed Lorraine Hayes.
Another showed Jordan Miles.
A third showed Vernon Price.
His face tightened.
"You've been following me?"
"No."
"Then why do you have my records?"
"I'm investigating your conduct."
Crowley stared at her.
"You're with Internal Affairs?"
"No."
"Then who authorized this?"
"People who outrank both of us."
Lieutenant Marcus Hale stepped closer.
"Officer Crowley."
Crowley turned.
"Lieutenant."
"Step away from Ms. Bennett."
Crowley didn't move.
Rebecca Sloan approached next.
"Officer, I need you to understand that this is now an official investigation."
Crowley looked at Thomas Reed.
"State attorney?"
Reed nodded.
"Public integrity unit."
For the first time, Crowley looked nervous.
"This is ridiculous."
Naomi said nothing.
Rebecca held out a hand.
"Your badge and service weapon."
Crowley's expression changed.
"You can't be serious."
"Temporary administrative suspension pending investigation."
Crowley looked around the beach.
People were watching.
The same people he had counted on ignoring him were now staring.
He removed his weapon.
Then his badge.
Marcus Hale took both.
Crowley looked at Naomi.
"You planned this."
Naomi met his eyes.
"No."
She paused.
"You did."
The Interviews
The investigation lasted eleven weeks.
Naomi interviewed every complainant again.
Lorraine Hayes remembered Crowley's exact words.