Kessler looked at Hale.
Hale looked at Claire.
For the first time that night, nobody tried to act tough.
The desk sergeant’s voice dropped lower still.
“We need to notify—”
“No,” Hale cut in.
“She’s still a suspect.”
The desk sergeant stared at him.
Hale’s mistake was immediate.
Clean men did not interrupt procedure that fast.
Clean captains did not look frightened by a database flag.
Claire saw the desk sergeant see it too.
Good.
A second witness.
Kessler leaned close to Hale.
“Do not let her make a call yet.”
Another mistake.
Another witness.
Another camera.
The desk sergeant shifted, uncomfortable.
“Sir…”
“We’re doing an interview first,” Hale said. “Then we sort the rest.”
Claire spoke at last.
“You just denied me access to counsel in front of a desk camera, a booking officer, and a digital log.”
Nobody answered.
She almost felt sorry for them.
