The message arrived on a Tuesday afternoon, delivered by a supervisor who seemed almost apologetic about interrupting the officer's lunch break in the staff room. The senior corrections officer, a man with nearly two decades of service at the institution, was informed that his presence was required in the administrative wing. When he arrived, he found himself facing not his usual supervisor but a human resources representative and a member of senior management. They informed him that a complaint had been received regarding his conduct, that the matter was serious enough to warrant an investigation, and that he would be placed on administrative leave effective immediately. When he asked what the complaint alleged, he was told only that it related to communications that may have violated workplace policy. When he asked whether he should contact his union representative before the meeting continued, the human resources representative paused, exchanged a glance with the manager, and then offered what would become the most consequential piece of guidance in the entire fourteen-month ordeal. The representative suggested, in a tone that conveyed friendly counsel rather than formal direction, that involving the union at this stage was not recommended. The investigation, the representative explained, was simply a fact-finding exercise. It was not disciplinary in nature. Having representation present might make the process more adversarial than it needed to be, might suggest that the officer had something to hide, might even prolong the investigation unnecessarily. The officer, caught off guard by the sudden turn in his workday and eager to demonstrate cooperation, accepted this guidance at face value. He did not call his union steward. He signed the administrative leave documentation. He surrendered his security credentials. And he walked out of the institution without any clear understanding of what he was alleged to have done, when he might return, or what rights he had inadvertently waived by accepting management's well-intentioned advice.