Whitfield, he said, "It's been a while. You're not calling to tell me you're taking more vacation days, are you? I wish it were that simple, sir. " Norah gave him the short version first, the way he preferred it, and then the longer version when he asked for it. Every detail from the porch confrontation to the broken recorder to Pierce's statement in the doorway.
Ferris was quiet for a long stretch after she finished. You're telling me a local sergeant and his lieutenant have been running a pattern of intimidation against homeowners for the better part of a decade and two of their own officers have already broken ranks to say so on the record. That's exactly what I'm telling you. And you have documentation. Original footage cloud stored untouched.
Written complaints your field office never received because the department buried them locally. And a man has about to walk into that house tomorrow morning and lie to two federal agents faces about what he thinks he already destroyed. There was a pause on the line. The sound of a chair creaking somewhere three states away. You understand what you're asking me to authorize?
This isn't a favor for a colleague anymore. Once I put people in that town, it becomes a formal matter. There's no quiet way to walk it back if something doesn't hold up. It'll hold up, Norah said. I've built cases on far less than what we've got sitting on that cloud server right now.
I believe you, Ferris said. That's not the part I'm worried about. I'm worried about a man cornered enough to do something stupid before my people ever arrive. Voss doesn't strike me as reckless. Hutchkins might be a different story.
Well be careful, Norah said. We have been so far. If he says something specific tomorrow, something we can hold him to. I want it documented the moment it happens. Not after the moment it happens.
Understood. I'll have people in the area by morning. Ferris said. Close enough to respond fast if you need them. Not on your porch.
Not yet. Just close. Thank you, sir. Don't thank me yet. Ferris said.