Inside were the shredded, crumpled remnants of the document he had ripped up on the highway. Bagged the trash she had in the car, just in case you want to tack on a forgery charge. Walsh sighed, annoyed at the mess on his desk. He reached into the bag and pulled out the damp, torn pieces of parchment. He flattened one of the larger fragments out on his blotter.
Walsh's eyes narrowed. The paper was unusually heavy, woven cotton bond. He moved his desk lamp closer through the dried mud and water stains. He read the embossed lettering at the top of the torn page. United States District Court, Northern District.
Walsh felt a sudden icy prickle at the base of his neck. He quickly grabbed another piece, frantically fitting the jagged edges together like a puzzle, a sealed indictment, he grabbed a third piece, authorized by the honorable magistrate judge. Walsh stopped breathing, his heart slammed against his ribs. He looked at the wax seal, broken, smeared, but undeniably bearing the crest of the Department of Justice. He dropped the pieces as if they were radiating heat.
Hayes. Walsh's voice was a strained, breathy whisper. He looked up, his face drained of all color. Where? Where did you get this?
Hayes chuckled, leaning against the doorframe. I told you she had it in her car. I ripped it up to show her we don't play that sovereign citizen crap in oak. You ripped it up? Walsh shot out of his chair, knocking his coffee mug over.
The brown liquid spilled across the desk, soaking into the arrest reports. You opened a sealed federal document and destroyed it. Hayes's smile faltered. Cap, come on. It's fake.
It's got to be. Look at the watermarks, you absolute, absolute idiot. Walsh roared, his voice cracking with panic. He rushed around his desk, grabbing Hayes by the collar of his uniform. Look at the signature.
This isn't fake. This is a federal warrant. Who is the woman in the cell? Who did you lock up? Hayes swallowed hard, suddenly feeling a cold dread settle in his stomach.
Just some woman, Josephine Carter. She didn't show me no badge. Get me her property bin now, Walsh ordered. Moments later, Walsh was furiously digging through Joe's plastic bin. He bypassed her civilian wallet and picked up the black satellite phone.