After reading the report, he searched online for cameras near the intersection where Maya had been stopped.
One business had an exterior camera pointed toward the street.
Marcus contacted the owner.
The owner agreed to provide the footage.
Maya watched it that evening.
She watched herself driving.
She watched the police vehicle appear.
She watched herself pull over.
She watched the officer approach.
The footage had no sound.
But it showed something important.
Maya had used her turn signal.
Clearly.
The camera captured it.
The signal flashed before she changed lanes.
Marcus stared at the screen.
“Well,” he said.
Maya said nothing.
She watched the footage again.
There was another detail.
The police vehicle had been behind her, but another car had been between them.
The officer couldn't have had the unobstructed view described in his report.
Maya leaned back.
She felt something different now.
Not anger.
Certainty.
The following morning, she made copies.
She printed the report.
She printed the receipt.
She printed the video stills.
She wrote down the names of every person involved.
Then she put everything into a folder.
Marcus watched her prepare.
“You're going back?”
“Yes.”
“You sure?”
Maya nodded.
“I don't want them to think I'm afraid.”
Marcus smiled slightly.
“You don't have to prove anything to them.”
“I know.”
She closed the folder.
“I'm doing this for myself.”
That was the difference.
Maya was no longer trying to convince someone to like her.
She wasn't asking for special treatment.
She wasn't demanding punishment.
She simply wanted the record corrected.
At 10:15 that morning, she entered the police office.
And Daniel Mercer looked up.
Daniel read the first few pages.
Then he looked at Maya.
“You've done a lot of research.”
“I wanted to understand what happened.”
“You think the report is completely wrong?”
“I think parts of it are.”
“That's your opinion.”
Maya nodded.
“Yes.”
Daniel pushed the folder back.
“Then file a formal complaint.”
“I already did.”
Daniel paused.