Nobody moved.

Adrian looked toward Malik.

“Come up here.”

Malik joined him.

He wore a suit that looked slightly uncomfortable on him.

Adrian handed him the microphone.

Malik looked toward the recruits.

“I don’t carry a badge.”

A few people smiled.

He continued.

“I was nineteen when that happened.”

He pointed toward the blank screen.

“I was picking up medicine for my grandmother.”

“Officer Mercer already knew where I worked.”

“He already had a reason for choosing me.”

“But I didn’t know any of that.”

Malik paused.

“All I knew was that a police officer was holding something in front of my face and saying it belonged to me.”

His voice became quieter.

“I remember thinking nobody was going to believe me.”

The room was completely silent.

“Then Investigator Cole walked over.”

“I didn’t know he was Internal Affairs.”

“I just thought somebody finally cared enough to stop.”

Malik looked at Adrian.

“Then he pulled out the badge.”

He turned back toward the recruits.

“And I was happy.”

“Because suddenly I knew somebody more powerful than Officer Mercer had seen everything.”

Malik paused.

“But later, that made me angry.”

A recruit raised her hand.

“Why?”

Malik smiled slightly.

“Because I realized I shouldn’t have needed somebody more powerful.”

No one responded.

“He was wrong before Investigator Cole showed the badge.”

“He was wrong when it was only me.”

That sentence stayed in the auditorium.

Adrian had heard Malik say versions of it before.

But this time, surrounded by future officers, it felt different.

Malik handed the microphone back.

Adrian looked across the recruits.

“This job will give you authority.”

“People will move when you tell them to.”

“Some will become nervous simply because you approach.”

“Some will believe you even when the person standing across from you tells the truth.”

He paused.

“That is not proof you’re right.”

He pointed toward Malik.

“Grant Mercer believed the uniform made his version stronger than Malik’s.”

“For years, it did.”

Adrian’s voice hardened.

“Don’t ever confuse being believed with being honest.”

After the presentation, a recruit approached Malik outside.

Young guy.

Maybe twenty-three.

Nervous.

“Can I ask you something?”

Malik nodded.

“Do you hate cops now?”

Malik thought about it.

“No.”

The recruit seemed relieved.

Malik continued.

“But I don’t automatically trust one because he’s wearing a uniform.”

The recruit’s relief disappeared.

“Isn’t that kind of sad?”

“Yes.”

Malik looked toward Adrian talking with another group.

“But trust isn’t something the uniform gives you.”

The recruit listened.

“You have to earn it.”

Malik shook his hand and left.

Adrian stayed with Internal Affairs.

He eventually became captain.

Captain Sloan retired three years later and told anyone who asked that Adrian had been her easiest promotion recommendation.