"Morrison, shut your mouth. " But Morrison was already committed. The words tumbled out faster now. And he knew the suspect's name before dispatch transmitted it. He kept saying Marcus Hail during the drive over, but dispatch didn't give us that name until we were already in the parking lot. Elena stepped closer to the group of officers.
Her prosecutor instincts were fully engaged now. "Officer Morrison, are you saying Sergeant Briggs had information about my fiance before officially receiving it through proper channels? " Morrison nodded. Sweat beaded on his forehead, but his voice grew steadier. "Yes, ma'am. " He knew exactly who we were looking for before we walked in here. Pike's jaw worked furiously.
He turned on Morrison with real anger in his voice. Officer Morrison, I am ordering you to stop talking immediately. You will not make any further statements without department counsel present. The ballroom erupted. Elena's voice rang out sharp and clear.
That sounded like witness intimidation to me. Did everyone hear the captain just order a potential witness to remain silent? Several guests murmured agreement. Someone in the back of the room said, "I heard it, too. " Dalton was already on her radio again. This is Special Agent Dalton.
I need federal supervisors at the Meridian Hotel Ballroom immediately. We have local officers potentially tampering with evidence and intimidating witnesses at an active federal investigation scene. Marcus watched Pike's face cycle through emotions, anger, calculation, desperation. The captain was losing control of the situation and everyone could see it. "You people are way out of line," Pike snarled.
"This is local jurisdiction. My officers were responding to a legitimate emergency call. " "What emergency call? " Elena demanded. "Officer Morrison just confirmed that Sergeant Briggs had information before dispatch provided it. " "How do you explain that, Captain? " Pike opened his mouth, then closed it. For several seconds, he said nothing. That silence cost him everything.
Briggs suddenly exploded into motion. He shoved a heavy banquet chair aside with a metallic crash that echoed through the ballroom. The chair skidded across the marble floor and slammed into a support pillar. "Enough of this nonsense," Briggs roared. ""Hail, give me that jacket right now. " I know what you're carrying, and I'm not leaving here without it. " The admission hung in the air like a physical presence. Marcus didn't move, didn't speak.
He simply stood there in his torn wedding clothes while Briggs words echoed around the silent ballroom. Elena's eyes went wide. "Did he just confess to targeting specific property? " Dalton stepped between Briggs and Marcus. "Sergeant Briggs, you are officially relieved of authority at this scene pending federal review. Step back immediately. " No chance.
Briggs started toward Marcus again, but two of his own officers moved to block him. Morrison looked sick. "Sarge, what are you doing? This isn't what you told us we came here for. " The second officer, older and clearly more experienced, shook his head slowly. "Nolan, you need to stop talking right now. " But Briggs was past listening to advice.