Facts first.
Always.
Florence looked back at Weston.
He had not noticed where her eyes had gone.
“Am I free to leave?”
she asked.
Weston hesitated.
Then:
“Yes.”
Florence nodded.
“Thank you.”
She put on her helmet.
Then stopped.
Looked toward Decker and Collins.
“Officers.”
Both looked at her.
“Your body cameras are running?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Decker answered.
“Good.”
She looked toward Weston.
“This encounter needs to be preserved.”
His face tightened.
“I’ll be filing a formal complaint.”
Not:
I’ll have your badge.
Not:
You’re finished.
Not:
Do you know who I am?
A complaint.
Evidence.
Process.
Weston said nothing.
Florence zipped her jacket.
Mounted the motorcycle.
Started the engine.
Then rode away.
Nobody stopped her.
She did not go home.
Three blocks later, she pulled into the parking lot of a grocery store.
Parked beneath a security camera.
Removed her helmet.
And called her supervisor.
Supervisory Special Agent David Chen answered on the fourth ring.
“Osborne?”
“I need you to start a preservation request.”
His tone changed immediately.
“For what?”
Florence gave him the department name.
Patrol unit number.
Weston’s name.
Approximate time.
Intersection.
Then:
“And David…”
“Yes?”
“I saw something in the open trunk of Weston’s cruiser.”
“What?”
“A sealed evidence package.”
“What kind?”
“I could see our joint-task-force prefix.”
Silence.
“You sure?”
“No.”
That answer mattered.
“I’m sure enough that the video and vehicle need preservation before anyone moves anything.”
David became very quiet.
“Do not go back.”
“I wasn’t planning to.”
“Do not contact the officer.”
“I know.”
“I’m calling counsel and the task-force supervisor.”
“Good.”
Florence continued:
“There should also be neighborhood video.”
“Several people recorded the stop.”
“Bodycams?”
“Yes.”
“CAD?”
“There was a dispatch complaint.”
“Good.”
David paused.
“You okay?”
Florence finally looked down at her hands.
They were shaking slightly.