Two rows behind them, Evan slouched in his seat with a smirk, his retired sheriff grandfather's hand resting heavily on his shoulder. They radiated the confidence of people used to getting their way.
The threeperson review panel entered and the room rose. The head panelist, Commissioner Walsh, called the hearing to order with three sharp wraps of his gavvel. "Officer Raymond Lorn," Walsh began. "You're here to address serious allegations of misconduct, false arrest, and excessive force. How do you respond?" Ry stood, tugging at his collar.
"These accusations are completely false, sir. I responded to a call about a violent student threatening my son. When I arrived, she was combative and refused to comply with lawful orders. Maya's hands tightened in her lap, but she kept her face neutral, just as they'd practiced. Beside her, Judge Kingsley made a small note.
And you maintain that your body camera malfunctioned during this incident? Walsh asked. Yes, sir. Equipment failure, but I followed all protocols. Then you'll be interested in seeing this footage," Walsh interrupted, nodding to the clerk.
The lights dimmed. A projector hummed to life, displaying highquality video from Ray's chest camera. The timestamp showed the date of Maya's arrest. The footage was damning. It showed Ry storming onto campus, shoving past protesting staff members.
His breathing was heavy, aggressive. When he reached Maya, she stood calmly with her hands visible, asking what she had done wrong. "Shut your mouth!" Ray's voice snarled through the speakers. The camera captured him roughly grabbing her arm, twisting it behind her back as she gasped in pain. "Please, I'm not resisting." Maya's voice was steady despite her obvious fear.
"Yeah, well, you should have thought about that before attacking my boy." Ray growled, cranking the handcuffs unnecessarily tight. Murmurss rose through the courtroom. Several officers shifted uncomfortably in their seats. The footage continued, showing Ry ignoring the principal's protests and Maya's requests to call her mother. When the lights came up, Ray's face had lost its color.