The laminated glass cracked, but held. Gasps erupted from the crowd. Naomi didn't move. He hit it again. The window collapsed inward.
Cole stared at him. Sheriff, she refused access. That doesn't mean Get the pry bar. Cole hesitated. Harlan turned.
That was an order. Cole reluctantly retrieved it. But instead of attacking the car, he stood holding it. Harlan reached through the broken window and pulled the interior release. The alarm screamed.
Naomi watched every movement. She could have revealed herself. She deliberately didn't. Because 3 weeks earlier, the FBI had received an anonymous complaint about Bellweather County Sheriff's Department. Several motorists claimed deputies were using questionable searches to seize cash and property.
Complaints disappeared. Body camera footage supposedly malfunctioned. Asset forfeiture paperwork contained inconsistencies. Naomi wasn't officially conducting an undercover operation that morning, but she knew Harlan's name. She had read it in a preliminary briefing.
What had begun as a bizarre traffic stop was suddenly potential evidence. "Sheriff," Naomi said, "is your body camera recording? " Harlan looked down. No light. "Technical issue. " Naomi looked at Cole. His camera was blinking red.
Harlan noticed. "Turn that off. " Cole froze. "Why? " Silence fell between them. Harlan stepped toward him. "I said turn it off. " Naomi's expression changed almost imperceptibly.
That order was more important than the broken Bugatti. Cole swallowed. Then he said, "It's department policy to record enforcement activity. " Harlan stared at him. "Turn it off. " Cole reached toward his camera. Naomi thought he would obey.
Instead, he moved his hand away. "No, sir. " The crowd murmured. Harlan's face flushed. He grabbed the pry bar himself and attacked the Bugatti's front storage compartment, apparently convinced something illegal must be hidden inside. Metal bent.
Carbon fiber cracked. The hood buckled. "You're destroying private property. " Naomi said. Then tell me what's inside. You could have asked.
Harlan stopped. Open it. Naomi looked at him. No? Harlan raised a sledgehammer taken from the SUV and brought it down across the windshield.
Sir, ask. People shouted. Phones moved closer. The second blow shattered another section. Stop.
Cole yelled. Harlan swung toward him. You want to join her? Naomi finally spoke with authority. Deputy Cole, keep your camera running.
Both men looked at her. Harlan laughed. You giving orders now? I'm asking him to preserve evidence. Harlan walked toward her.
Evidence of what? Naomi brought one hand from behind her back. In it was a black credential wallet. She opened it slowly. The gold federal badge caught the midday sun.
Cole's expression emptied. Harlan stopped dead. Naomi held the credentials at chest level. Naomi Carter. Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Nobody spoke. Even the crowd seemed to go silent. Harlan's eyes moved from the badge to the destroyed Bugatti and back again. You should have identified yourself. I wasn't required to invoke my federal position during an ordinary traffic stop.
You entrapped me. I asked why you stopped me. I gave you valid documents. I refused consent. Everything after that was your decision.
Harlan glanced toward the watching shoppers. Put the phones down. He shouted. Nobody did. Cole looked sick.
Agent Carter, I didn't know. Keep recording, Deputy. Harlan suddenly reached for his radio. Dispatch, I need Naomi interrupted. Before you make that call, Sheriff, understand that destroying or concealing evidence now would create additional problems.
Harlan lowered the radio. Then came the first twist. Cole stepped closer to Naomi. Cole, shut up. 6 months.
Cole continued. I've been copying incident reports. Harlan lunged toward him, but Naomi stepped between them. Don't touch him. Cole's hands trembled.
Stops like this have happened before. Not with a car this expensive, but searches, seizures. People complained. Reports were changed afterward. Harlan shouted.
Then the records will show that. Naomi replied. Cole continued. There's a storage drive in my locker. Original body camera exports.
I started saving them after one disappeared from the evidence system. Naomi felt the entire situation expand. This was no longer about her brother's car. She took out her phone and made one call. Carter, I need the duty supervisor and public corruption team notified.