May I ask one question? Officer Reed nodded cautiously. Go ahead. Has anyone inside this dealership confirmed who purchased this SUV? The officer looked toward the sales staff.
No. Ethan nodded slowly. I thought so. Officer Collins looked at Ethan for several seconds. Something about his confidence didn't feel fake.
It felt earned. Just then, a loud notification echoed from the owner's office upstairs. Richard stared at the computer screen. A customer profile had appeared. His face lost all color.
He immediately grabbed his office phone and pressed one emergency extension. The person on the other end answered almost instantly. Richard took a deep breath before speaking. Cancel my next meeting. There was a brief pause.
Then he added with urgency, And tell the executive board Mr. Ethan Brooks is standing in our showroom. Officer Reed stood with his arms crossed, convinced he was in control of the situation. Around him, the showroom remained unusually quiet. The excitement of customers choosing new cars had disappeared. Now, every eye was fixed on Ethan Brooks.
Ethan still hadn't moved. His calm expression never changed. Officer Collins stepped closer to the black SUV and quietly examined it. She looked at the temporary registration displayed inside the windshield. Jason, she said softly.
The temporary tag looks legitimate. Officer Reed glanced at it. Fake documents exist. They do, Collins replied. But we should still verify them.
Without answering, Reed walked around the SUV, checking every door and every window. Everything looked exactly as it should. There were no broken locks, no damaged windows, no signs that anyone had forced the vehicle open. Something didn't fit. Ethan watched quietly.
I told you, he said politely. The dealership already has every document you need. Reed looked at him. And I told you I'll decide when to check them. Ethan simply nodded.
As you wish. The salesman holding the purchase folder became more nervous. Officer, the finance office can confirm everything in less than a minute. Reed looked at him. Please step back.
The young salesman obeyed immediately. Across the showroom, the finance manager had been listening to everything. He quietly walked toward his computer and entered the vehicle's stock number. Within seconds, the purchase file appeared. His eyes moved down the screen.
Customer name, vehicle identification number, payment confirmation. Everything matched perfectly. Then he noticed a small gold icon beside the customer's profile. He had never seen that symbol before. Curious, he clicked it.
A message immediately appeared. Executive-level customer record. Manager authorization required. The finance manager frowned. Executive level?
He quickly picked up the office phone. Mr. Lawson, I think you need to see something. Upstairs, dealership owner Richard Lawson was already staring at Ethan's customer profile. The same gold symbol appeared on his screen. He slowly scrolled farther down.
Then his eyes widened. No, he whispered. This can't be happening. He immediately left his office and hurried toward the stairs. Back downstairs, Officer Collins quietly walked over to Ethan.