“You don’t know anything about that case.”

“I know his work records supported his alibi.”

Riker laughed bitterly.

“Work records can be wrong.”

“I know the first interview notes contained information that wasn’t included in the final report.”

The officer stopped moving.

Arvand continued.

“And I know Captain Vale told you the boy had already signed, so you should stop asking questions.”

Riker stared at him.

Arvand could see the realization spreading across his face.

The recording was real.

It had survived.

And someone outside the department possessed it.

Riker approached the table.

“Listen carefully. You’re going to sign a statement.”

Arvand looked down at the paper the officer placed before him.

It claimed that Arvand had unlawfully obtained department materials and altered records connected to the Darius Bell case.

He read the first paragraph.

Then looked up.

“I’m not signing a false statement.”

Riker leaned forward.

“You don’t understand how much trouble you’re in.”

Arvand kept his voice steady.

“I understand exactly what you’re trying to do.”

The officer struck the table with his palm.

“Sign it!”

Arvand flinched.

But he didn’t reach for the pen.

For the first time, he thought about his nephew’s experience in a room like this.

The pressure.

The isolation.

The exhaustion.

The fear that refusing to cooperate would make things worse.

He finally understood how a frightened nineteen-year-old could be pushed into signing words that weren’t true.

And that realization made him more determined not to repeat the mistake.

Chapter 10: The Five O’Clock Call

At 5:03 p.m., Nadine Harper looked at her phone.

Arvand hadn’t called.

She waited two minutes.

Then dialed his number.

No answer.

She tried again.

Nothing.

At 5:09, she contacted the police department’s central records office.

The employee who answered had no record of an authorized meeting with Arvand Burlington that afternoon.

Nadine frowned.

“Could you confirm whether Officer Thomas Riker is working at the annex?”

The employee hesitated.

“He’s assigned there today.”

“Is he authorized to conduct an interview involving the Darius Bell records?”

“I can’t confirm that.”