“That nobody should need a title before people check the facts.”
Camille nodded.
“That part still works.”
The employee hesitated.
“Can I ask something?”
“Sure.”
“What would you have done if Julian never came downstairs?”
Camille thought.
“I would’ve tried to stay safe.”
“Documented everything I could.”
“Filed complaints.”
“Requested the security footage.”
The employee looked at her.
“What if you didn’t own Vale Rowe at all?”
Camille finally understood the question.
What does an ordinary person do when there is no reveal coming?
“Safety first,” she said.
“Ask what you’re accused of.”
“Ask what facts support it.”
“Get names if you safely can.”
“Document afterward.”
The employee nodded.
Camille added something else.
“But I don’t like turning survival into another exam the victim has to pass.”
“What do you mean?”
“Whenever something like this happens, everybody gives instructions.”
Camille listed them.
Stay calm.
Never raise your voice.
Use perfect legal language.
Record everything.
Ask for a manager.
Do not move too quickly.
“All of that can help.”
She paused.
“But the person with authority has the greater responsibility.”
The employee waited.
Camille smiled faintly.
“You should not need extraordinary self-control to receive ordinary fairness.”
Lena later put the sentence into training.
Camille complained.
Lena told her to fire her.
Camille declined.
Officer Brennan Again
Years later, Camille unexpectedly saw Paul Brennan at LaGuardia Airport.
He recognized her first.
“Ms. Porter?”
She turned.
Gray had reached his temples.
Supervisor bars now marked his uniform.
“Officer Brennan.”
“Lieutenant now.”
“Congratulations.”
He smiled awkwardly.
“I’ve wanted to tell you something.”
Camille waited.
“I use that body-camera footage in training.”
She raised an eyebrow.
“With department permission.”
“Important clarification.”
He laughed.