"Colonel," Chief Vance said, his voice grave. "I am aware of the incident. I personally witnessed the aftermath. The officer involved, Daniel Prescott, has been stripped of his badge and gun and placed on immediate administrative suspension. We are launching an internal affairs investigation and preparing formal assault charges."

"With all due respect, Chief," Colonel Vance replied sharply, "this is not merely an internal police matter. General Cole is an active-duty four-star general holding a high-level security clearance and exercising strategic command over national defense assets. An unprovoked assault on a flag officer by local law enforcement carries severe state and federal jurisdictional ramifications."

At that moment, Adrian walked out through the double glass doors of the vestibule, accompanied by his nephew Marcus. Seeing the CID agents and the military legal officers standing on the porch, Adrian sighed softly.

"Colonel Vance," Adrian called out calmly. "Stand down."

The military officers instantly snapped to attention. "General Cole, sir," Colonel Vance said. "We came as soon as Colonel Reeves alerted headquarters. We are prepared to take custody of all police dashcam footage, bodycam video, and file federal charges against the officer involved."

Adrian walked over to the group, his posture composed. "Colonel, today is about my brother Malcolm. I will not have his memory overshadowed by a spectacle of federal authorities swarming a local police department on the porch of his church."

"Sir," Colonel Vance insisted respectfully, "Officer Prescott’s actions were criminal. He struck you across the face and falsified claims of resistance."

"I am fully aware of what Officer Prescott did," Adrian said, his voice cold as iron. "And he will be held fully accountable under the law. But it will be done properly, methodically, and through the correct legal channels. We will not turn my family's day of mourning into a media circus."

Chief Vance looked at Adrian with profound gratitude. "General Cole, I give you my personal word that Officer Prescott will face the full weight of justice. Our department will not cover this up."

"I expect nothing less, Chief," Adrian said quietly. "Now, if you will excuse us, my family has a burial to attend."

As Adrian walked toward the waiting black limousine with his family, Chief Vance turned to his remaining officers. "I want Prescott's bodycam footage secured within the hour," Vance ordered harshly. "If anyone attempts to erase or tamper with that video file, I will personally see to it that they share a cell with him."

While the Cole family laid Malcolm to rest at the peaceful West Oak Cemetery, Officer Daniel Prescott sat alone in a windowless briefing room at the Westfield Police Department headquarters. His duty belt was gone, his uniform shirt was unbuttoned at the collar, and his hands trembled as he stared at the empty coffee cup sitting on the table before him.

Just two hours earlier, Prescott had believed he was a dominant force on the streets—a tough, uncompromising officer who commanded absolute compliance. Now, the overwhelming reality of his fatal miscalculation was crashing down upon him like an avalanche.

The door to the briefing room slammed open, and Chief Richard Vance walked in, holding a thick yellow manila folder. Behind him walked Mayor Arthur Pendelton, the highest elected official in Westfield, along with the town’s municipal legal counsel.

Prescott jumped to his feet. "Chief! Mr. Mayor! Look, I can explain everything. It was a complete misunderstanding! The guy was dressed in a dark suit walking around vehicles... he looked out of place, and when I approached, he was evasive—"

"Shut your mouth, Daniel," Mayor Pendelton snapped, his face pale with fury. "Do you have any idea what you've done to this city?"

Chief Vance threw the yellow folder onto the table. "I just reviewed the bodycam footage from your vest, Prescott. And I reviewed Ross’s bodycam as well."

Prescott’s throat went dry. "Chief, my bodycam... I hadn't officially activated the primary recording..."