Sergeant Bell had received a suspension for failing to control his subordinate, though Denise had personally noted in her statement that Bell had been the only one to attempt de-escalation and verify facts.
Her desk phone buzzed. “Agent Carter,” her assistant’s voice came through the speaker. “The Oak Haven Chief is on line two. He wants to follow up on the new joint-training initiative.”
“Put him through,” Denise said.
She opened the file one last time, looking at Mercer's badge photo. He had spent his career confusing obedience with respect, using fear as a tool of compliance. He had picked the wrong driveway, the wrong car, and the wrong woman.
But as Denise picked up the phone, she didn't feel a sense of personal triumph. She thought of all the citizens who didn't have federal credentials in their center consoles. The people who couldn't demand the preservation of body camera footage. The people who were just trying to go home.
That, she decided, was what the new joint-training initiative was going to be about.
“Chief,” Denise said warmly as the line connected. “Let’s talk about accountability.”