That was the hardest thing he had done all day.
Harlan stepped toward him.
“You’re finished after today.”
Evan looked frightened.
Then something changed.
“Okay.”
Harlan stared.
The answer bothered him.
Agent Dana Whitaker entered.
She introduced herself calmly.
No drama.
No threats.
No speech about taking over the sheriff’s department.
She simply asked, “Who is currently in custody?”
Harlan pointed toward the cell.
“Fraud suspect.”
Dana looked at Julian.
“Name?”
“Julian Carter.”
She nodded.
Then she smelled the air.
Burned paper.
Her eyes moved toward the trash can.
“What happened there?”
Harlan crossed his arms.
“Fraudulent documents destroyed for safety.”
Dana looked at him.
“You destroyed evidence before establishing it was fraudulent?”
“They were obviously fake.”
“Did you photograph them?”
“No.”
“Scan them?”
“No.”
“Contact the issuing agency?”
“No.”
“Run his military identification?”
“No.”
Dana looked toward Evan.
“Were you present?”
“Yes.”
“Body camera?”
“Yes.”
“Still running?”
Evan glanced down.
“Yes.”
Dana nodded.
“Good.”
Harlan stepped forward.
“This is county business.”
Dana looked toward him.
“It is.”
She pulled out a notebook.
“And your county attorney contacted us because an outside security official reported potential evidence destruction during a custodial detention.”
She gestured toward the cell.
“I am not here because Mr. Carter is important.”
Then she pointed toward the trash can.
“I’m here because that happened.”
Rebecca Sloan entered.
Julian recognized her immediately.
She looked through the bars.
“You all right?”
“Yes.”
“Injured?”
“No.”
“You missed check-in.”
“So I heard.”
Her eyes moved to the trash can.
The humor vanished.
She started toward it.
Dana stopped her.
“Don’t touch anything yet.”
Rebecca nodded.
“Right.”
Chain of custody.
Julian watched Harlan.
The sheriff looked smaller than he had roadside.
Dana turned back toward him.
“What is your current legal basis for detaining Mr. Carter?”
“Document fraud.”
“Based on what?”
“Fake military paperwork.”
“The paperwork you burned.”
Harlan stared.
Dana continued.
“Any other basis?”
“Obstruction.”
Evan spoke before Harlan could continue.
“He didn’t obstruct.”
Everybody turned.
Harlan’s face changed.