Chapter 21: The Internal Affairs Scare - Part 1
POV: Detective Carlson
December brought cold winds and colder scrutiny to NYPD headquarters, where Detective Michael Carlson sat in his cramped Internal Affairs office reviewing files that had been keeping him awake for the past three weeks. The Martinez case spread across his desk like evidence of systematic fraud—too perfect to be real, too consistent to be coincidence.
Statistical impossibilities dressed up as exemplary service.
Carlson had been investigating police misconduct for twelve years, developing an eye for patterns that separated legitimate excellence from manufactured credentials. The Detective Kole Martinez file triggered every instinct he'd learned to trust.
Closure rate three standard deviations above precinct average. Combat skills inconsistent with documented training. Observational capabilities that border on supernatural.
Either Martinez is the most naturally gifted detective in NYPD history, or someone's been very busy creating a legend.
The commendations looked authentic—proper letterhead, appropriate signatures, bureaucratic language that matched departmental standards. But when Carlson dug deeper, requesting the underlying case files and incident reports, the documentation became frustratingly sparse.
Commendation for "exceptional performance under pressure" during the warehouse incident. No details about what actually happened. Praise for "innovative investigative techniques" in the Morrison case. No description of what those techniques involved.
Like someone scrubbed away anything that might reveal how Martinez actually works.
Carlson's experience suggested two possibilities: either Martinez's methods were so unorthodox they required official protection, or someone had systematically sanitized his record to hide evidence of corruption or illegitimate enhancement.
Enhancement. That's the word IAB uses when they suspect artificial augmentation of human capabilities.
Performance drugs. Technology assistance. Undisclosed training from classified sources.
Something that makes normal humans perform at impossible levels.
The 74th Precinct transfer added another layer of suspicion. Martinez had arrived at the Nine-Nine with glowing recommendations but minimal background verification. His previous captain praised his work while remaining oddly vague about specific accomplishments.
Captain Rogers at the 74th: "Martinez was our best detective. Solved cases that had us stumped for months. Real asset to the department."
When pressed for details: "You'd have to ask Martinez himself about his methods. I just know they worked."
Deflection. Classic deflection when someone's covering up information they can't officially discuss.
Carlson compiled his findings into presentation format, preparing to request formal investigative authority from IAB supervisors. The Martinez case had all the hallmarks of systematic deception, but proving it would require resources and authorization.
Time to convince the brass that the Nine-Nine's golden boy deserves closer scrutiny.
The IAB conference room smelled like burnt coffee and bureaucratic frustration, where supervisors processed dozens of corruption cases with the weary efficiency of people who'd seen every possible variation of police misconduct.
"Detective Carlson," Deputy Chief Harrison began, "your preliminary report on Detective Martinez raises interesting questions. Walk us through your concerns."
Carlson activated the presentation screen, displaying statistical analysis and timeline comparisons that painted Martinez as either exceptionally gifted or exceptionally suspicious.
"Martinez's performance metrics are statistically impossible for someone with his documented training and experience," Carlson began. "Closure rate ninety-one percent over six months. Combat effectiveness that suggests military special forces background. Observational skills that consistently identify evidence other detectives miss."
Let the numbers speak for themselves.
"His transfer documentation is technically perfect but practically suspicious. Commendations without corresponding case details. References to training that can't be verified. Background checks that return clean results while revealing minimal actual information."
Supervisor Martinez—no relation, despite the name coincidence—leaned forward with obvious interest.
"Are you suggesting fabricated credentials?"
"I'm suggesting systematic information management designed to hide the source of Martinez's capabilities. Either he's receiving assistance from undisclosed sources, or someone's been very careful to obscure how he developed his skills."
Assistance. Enhancement. Technology. Training.
Something that explains how someone becomes this good this fast.
Deputy Chief Harrison consulted his notes, clearly weighing the political implications of investigating a high-performing detective attached to Captain Holt's prestigious command.
"The Nine-Nine has strong political support. Captain Holt's record is exemplary, and their recent case closures have been generating positive publicity for the department."
Political considerations. Of course.
"Which makes Martinez either a genuine asset or a sophisticated problem," Carlson replied. "If he's legitimate, this investigation clears him and strengthens the department's position. If he's compromised, we need to identify the source before it spreads to other commands."
Before other detectives start demonstrating impossible capabilities.
The supervisors exchanged glances that suggested internal communication Carlson wasn't privy to.
"Authorization granted for formal investigation," Harrison decided. "But Detective Carlson—this needs to be thorough and professional. No fishing expeditions, no harassment of a productive detective. Follow the evidence wherever it leads, but make sure you have evidence before making accusations."
Authorization granted. Time to find out what Detective Martinez is really hiding.
POV: Kole Martinez
The IAB interview notification arrived on Tuesday morning like a death sentence wrapped in official letterhead. Kole stared at the formal language requesting his presence for "routine background verification interview" while his photographic memory catalogued every gap, every inconsistency, every fabricated detail in Martinez's documented history.
"Detective Martinez is requested to appear for administrative interview regarding recent transfer and performance metrics. Interview scheduled for Friday, December 13th, 0900 hours."
Friday the 13th. The universe has a sense of humor.
His enhanced recall brought every problematic detail into sharp focus—commendations for cases he'd never worked, training records that didn't match his actual capabilities, references to background investigations that had never actually occurred.
The warehouse incident: "Detective Martinez's tactical awareness and physical capabilities exceeded expectations." What capabilities? What tactics? The report is deliberately vague.
The Morrison case: "Innovative investigative techniques led to breakthrough identification of primary suspect." What techniques? How did the breakthrough occur? Another carefully sanitized description.
Every piece of documentation that should explain how Martinez became exceptional instead raises more questions about why the explanations are missing.
Captain Holt's office felt colder than usual, the morning light filtered through windows that seemed designed to emphasize the seriousness of their conversation. Holt sat behind his desk with typical precise posture, but Kole's lie detection caught undercurrents of concern beneath the professional facade.
Holt's worried. About the investigation, about me, about what IAB might uncover.
"Detective Martinez," Holt began with characteristic formality, "I assume you're aware of the Internal Affairs interview request."
"Yes, sir."
"IAB investigations can destroy careers even when the subject is completely innocent of wrongdoing. The process itself becomes punishment, regardless of eventual conclusions."
Warning. Holt's warning me about what's coming.
"I suggest you prepare thoroughly, Detective. Your record may be exemplary, but IAB doesn't care about results. They care about procedure, documentation, and explanations that satisfy administrative requirements."
Translation: They're going to dissect every aspect of Martinez's background, and it won't survive close scrutiny.
"Do you have any concerns about the investigation?" Holt asked carefully.
Massive concerns. My entire existence is fabricated. But I can't tell you that.
"Just the usual anxiety about having my work questioned," Kole replied, choosing honesty where possible.
Holt's expression revealed nothing, but his micro-expressions suggested he understood there were layers to Kole's concerns that couldn't be discussed openly.
He suspects something. Not the transmigration, but something about my background that doesn't add up.
"Detective Martinez, in my experience, IAB investigations proceed most smoothly when subjects are completely forthcoming about any... irregularities in their professional history. Attempting to hide problematic information typically makes situations worse."
He's giving me an opportunity to confess whatever I'm hiding.
If only I could.
"I understand, Captain."
"I hope you do."
Jake's reaction to news of the IAB investigation was immediate and protective, his competitive instincts channeling into squad loyalty with surprising intensity.
Jake defending me despite his ongoing suspicions. That's... unexpected.
"This is bullshit," Jake announced to the bullpen with characteristic subtlety. "Martinez is solid. IAB's fishing because they can't find real corruption to investigate."
Squad loyalty overriding personal suspicion. Family protecting family.
Amy looked up from her computer with analytical concern.
"IAB doesn't investigate without cause, Jake. Martinez's performance metrics are statistically unusual."
"Unusual because he's good at his job?"
"Unusual because his capabilities exceed his documented training by significant margins."
Amy's figured out the statistical impossibility of my abilities. Of course she has.
Charles bounced between emotional support and investigative paranoia, his protective instincts warring with his natural tendency toward conspiracy theories.
"This could be retaliation for solving cases too quickly," he suggested. "Some people don't like being shown up by exceptional performance."
Exceptional performance. Everyone keeps using that phrase.
Because normal performance doesn't explain what I can do.
Rosa's response was characteristically direct and surprisingly supportive.
"IAB comes after Martinez, they come after all of us," she said simply. "Squad sticks together."
Squad sticks together. Even when they don't understand what they're protecting.
But it was Jake's confrontation with Detective Carlson that surprised Kole most, overheard as he passed the hallway where Jake had cornered the IAB investigator.
"Martinez is solid," Jake said with quiet intensity. "You're wasting time investigating a good cop when there's actual corruption to find."
Jake defending me to IAB. Despite his suspicions, despite his questions about my background.
Carlson's response was professionally neutral but clearly unimpressed.
"Detective Peralta, your own record includes several incidents of questionable judgment. I'm not sure you're the best character witness for professional conduct."
Jake's record includes questionable judgment. But he's still willing to put himself at risk defending me.
"My judgment's fine. And my judgment says Martinez is exactly what he appears to be—a detective who's good at his job."
If only that were true.
Walking back to his apartment that evening, Kole processed the impossible paradox of his situation. IAB was investigating inconsistencies in his background that were absolutely real, while the squad was defending capabilities they didn't understand against scrutiny that was completely justified.
They're protecting someone who doesn't exist from investigation into lies that are entirely accurate.
And in four days, I have to sit across from Detective Carlson and convince him that impossible is possible, that fabricated is legitimate, that supernatural abilities are natural talent.
Using those same supernatural abilities to maintain the deception.
Friday approached with the weight of inevitability, carrying questions that had no good answers and truths that couldn't be spoken. The sword of IAB investigation hung over Kole's carefully constructed identity, threatening to expose secrets that would destroy everything he'd built.
Four days to prepare for the most important performance of my life.
Where failure means losing not just my career, but my entire existence in this reality.
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