Nathan interrupted.
“Did anybody verify the control number?”
Russell paused.
“We were working on that.”
“So no.”
Derek stepped closer.
“The circumstances suggested theft.”
Nathan looked directly at him.
“You’re Deputy Derek Maddox.”
Derek frowned.
“Yes.”
Margaret looked toward the file.
No one explained.
11:59.
Russell’s patience broke.
“If you have authority to interfere with an active investigation, show it.”
Nathan looked at the clock.
“Not yet.”
The minute changed.
12:00 a.m.
Margaret opened the file.
She removed a certified document bearing the Cedar Ridge County seal.
Russell looked down.
Halfway across the first page appeared the language approved unanimously by the Board of County Commissioners.
MAYA DENISE WHITFIELD — SHERIFF OF CEDAR RIDGE COUNTY — EFFECTIVE 12:00 A.M. MONDAY.
Russell read it twice.
Derek moved closer.
“What is that?”
Aaron already knew.
Nathan looked toward the clock.
12:01.
“Captain Hollis, Maya Whitfield is now the Sheriff of Cedar Ridge County.”
Nobody moved.
Then Nathan added, “Open the holding-room door.”
Chapter 12: Sheriff Whitfield
Maya entered the administrative area less than a minute later.
She did not smile.
There was no triumphant pause.
No clever line prepared for Derek.
Her attention went immediately toward evidence processing.
The transition case had different packaging.
The dash camera now carried a damaged-equipment label.
The original clear evidence bag she remembered from intake was gone.
Nathan handed her the appointment.
“Sheriff Whitfield.”
Maya accepted it.
“Thank you.”
Derek finally found his voice.
“If you had told us who you were, none of this would’ve happened.”
Maya looked at him.
Several deputies expected an answer.
She gave them none.
Instead she turned toward dispatch.
“Freeze every evidence-management system connected to my stop.”
Russell stepped forward.
“Sheriff, before you start issuing orders, there are circumstances you need to understand.”
“I understand enough to know nothing else gets changed tonight.”
She looked toward the dispatcher.
“No deletion.”
“No reclassification.”
“No repackaging.”
“No movement of evidence connected to me, my car, the transition case, or the roadside recording unless independently documented.”
Russell folded his arms.
“You’re personally involved.”
“Yes.”
“You cannot run this investigation.”
“I agree.”
That stopped him.
Maya turned toward Nathan.
“Call the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation.”
Nathan nodded.
“I want independent preservation and an outside investigative team.”
Derek stared.
“You’re not investigating us yourself?”
“No.”
Maya looked directly at him for the first time since midnight.
“That protects the facts from me too.”
Then she turned toward Aaron.
“Who handled the Bentley camera?”
Derek answered first.
“It arrived corrupted.”
Maya kept her eyes on Aaron.
“I didn’t ask its condition.”
Aaron swallowed.
“Deputy Maddox removed it roadside.”
“Then?”
“It went through intake.”
“After that?”
“Captain Hollis accessed the electronic evidence record.”
Russell looked toward Aaron.
The young deputy saw the warning immediately.
Maya saw it too.
“Preserve the audit history.”
“Yes, Sheriff.”
“All of it.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Russell lowered his voice.
“We need to discuss this privately.”
“We will.”
Maya looked toward the evidence room.
“After preservation starts.”