Last chance. If you have lawful grounds, state them. By now, nearly 15 people were watching. Some had phones raised. One older woman whispered, "She hasn't even done anything. " Harlan heard her.
His embarrassment became anger. Move everybody back. Cole began clearing space while Naomi remained beside the car. Then Harlan made the decision that would destroy his career. He pulled a metal breaching tool from the sheriff's SUV.
Naomi's eyebrows lifted. Sheriff, I strongly recommend that you stop. That a threat? No, it's advice. Harlan struck the driver's side window.
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.