Beyond The Fine Line

Chapter XLVII - When Ideals Meet Reality

The early evening brought a muted calm to the station. The once frantic pace now slowed, though tension lingered beneath the surface. Fewer officers milled about, their steps more deliberate, but the weight of responsibility hung heavily in the air. Two days after the riots, the pressure from the police chief and government was palpable, an unspoken reminder that while the chaos had subsided, the scrutiny had not.

Margaret stepped inside the police station with effortless grace. Dressed in a black pencil skirt and white shirt with a tailored blazer, her appearance spoke of wealth and understated power, commanding yet elegant. The soft click of her polished heels on the tiled floor caught everyone's attention. She adjusted her designer handbag and glanced at her son.

"Are you sure you don't want to come with me?"

Jay nodded. "You know it would only complicate things."

She was well aware that bringing anyone not directly involved in the legal process into sensitive areas like the consultation room wasn't allowed. But this was an unusual situation involving someone close. Perhaps that's why she admired Jay's choice to stick to his professional ethics even more.

Margaret approached the front desk, exuding the quiet authority that came with years of experience in high-profile cases. She greeted the officer on duty and introduced herself, following with the reason for her visit.

The desk officer quickly typed the information in the system, and his posture immediately straightened. He cleared his throat.

"Of course, Miss Anderson. The officer in charge is Detective Saengmai," he said, looking up from his computer before picking up the phone. "I'll let them know you've arrived."

Margaret waited patiently as the officer made the call, casually scanning the station. After a brief exchange, he hung up and gestured toward a nearby hallway.

"Detective Saengmai will meet you in the consultation room. I'll have an officer take you there."

Within moments, Margaret was being escorted through the station. Everything appeared orderly, but the evidence stored on her laptop and the case file told a different story. For the first time, she felt incredibly relieved for her influential backing; without it, navigating such a corrupt environment would have been quite a challenge.

The consultation room was sparse, with plain grey walls and a single fluorescent light over the metal table with two chairs. The faint hum of the air conditioner filled the small space, ensuring the temperature was pleasant. Margaret barely set her bag on the table when a middle-aged in a checkered shirt and grey blazer rushed in and introduced himself.

"Miss Anderson," he began, his tone polite but brisk. "As you are aware, your clients are facing serious charges: inciting violence, disorderly conduct, assaulting a police officer, and resisting arrest. I'm afraid you have your work cut out for you."

Margaret raised an eyebrow, calm and collected. "I'd like to review the report filed upon their arrest. Could you also tell me what evidence these charges are based on? Body camera footage, witness statements... anything that supports the officers' claims?"

Detective Saengmai slid a file across the table. "At this stage, charges are supported by officers' statements as they both reported malfunction of body cameras."

"How convenient," Margaret hummed, opening the file. She scanned the pages briefly before speaking. "Fortunately, there is video evidence that contradicts this narrative."

His earlier friendliness faded, his expression now tense. "Miss Anderson, the case is still under investigation. Our officers acted within their duties given the circumstances."