The atmosphere instantly changed.

Maya held up her credentials.

Naomi did the same.

The officers froze.

Because these were not ordinary badges.

They belonged to federal investigators.

The bartender stepped back.

Customers stopped talking.

Ryan stared.

"You work in law enforcement?"

Maya looked at him.

"Yes."

Jason looked confused.

"Why didn't you say?"

Naomi answered calmly:

"Because we were not here as officers."

"We were here as customers."

That sentence changed everything.

Because the officers had spent the last several minutes treating two professionals like people who had no authority.

Chapter 4 — The Investigation Behind the Night Out

The situation was reported to the department the next day.

Not because Maya and Naomi wanted revenge.

Because accountability mattered.