They fragment.
Rebuild.
Shift methods.
New agents take over.
New informants.
New surveillance.
But Jamal’s role was finished.
He was transferred temporarily to intelligence analysis while investigators assessed risk.
He hated it.
Not because analysis was beneath him.
It wasn’t.
Because he could see Blue Harbor continuing without him.
Every morning, case updates appeared in systems he could access only partially.
New lead.
Dead lead.
Warrant.
No result.
Possible Bellamy sighting in Arizona.
Unconfirmed.
Marcus Dale located?
No.
Week three, Renee Calder found Jamal in the office at 7:15 p.m.
“You know you can go home.”
“So can you.”
“I have a family waiting.”
“That sounds inefficient.”
She sat across from him.
“You’re angry.”
“Everyone keeps telling me.”
“Maybe because you are.”
Jamal closed the laptop.
“What do you want?”
“To know if you’re going to file.”
“Against Holloway?”
“City.”
“I haven’t decided.”
“You should talk to counsel.”
“I did.”
Calder raised an eyebrow.
“When?”
“Yesterday.”
“And?”
“They think I have a strong civil-rights claim.”
“You do.”
“Agency position?”
“DEA won’t tell you what to do personally.”
“Unofficial position?”
Calder looked at him.
“You were lawfully armed, cooperative, falsely characterized in a report and publicly exposed during an operation.”
“That sounded official.”
“It wasn’t.”
Jamal leaned back.
“My attorney wants a notice of claim at $6.8 million.”
Calder whistled.
“You planning to buy an island?”
“It’s an opening number.”
“I know.”
Jamal looked at the case board.
“How much did Blue Harbor cost?”
“In money?”
“Yes.”
“Before compromise?”
“Rough estimate.”
“Several million.”
“Informants?”
“Can’t price them.”
“Lost evidence?”
“No.”
“Future overdoses?”
Calder’s face tightened.
“No.”
Jamal nodded.
“That’s why the number doesn’t feel ridiculous.”
The claim was filed.
The department union accused Jamal’s attorneys of exploiting the case.
The city called the amount excessive.
Commentators debated damages.
Jamal ignored most of it.
Then something happened that affected him more than the original viral video.
The woman who made the suspicious-person call came forward.
Her name was Linda Parson.
Sixty-four.
Retired elementary-school librarian.
She contacted Jamal’s attorney through counsel.
She wanted to apologize.
Jamal initially refused to meet.
Then changed his mind.
They met in a conference room.
Linda was nervous.
She held her handbag with both hands.
“I’m sorry.”
Jamal sat opposite.
“What exactly are you sorry for?”
She looked surprised by the question.
“For calling the police.”
“Why did you call?”
“I thought you were looking into cars.”
“Did you see me pull a handle?”
“No.”
“Try a door?”
“No.”
“Break a window?”
“No.”
She looked down.
“You were walking slowly.”