If Maya announced her appointment, behavior would change instantly.
Derek would suddenly become careful.
His supervisors would measure every word.
Somebody would call county counsel.
Every decision afterward would be made with the knowledge that the woman in handcuffs would soon control personnel assignments, disciplinary recommendations, and operational policy.
Maya wanted something else.
She wanted the truth that existed before courtesy knew it was necessary.
At headquarters, booking officer Patricia Lowe asked Maya for her name, address, date of birth, and occupation. Maya answered every routine identification question. When Patricia asked what she did for work, Maya paused only briefly.
“County administration.”
“What kind?”
“Transition work.”
Derek stood nearby.
“She was carrying restricted internal files.”
Patricia looked toward the sealed case.
The broken evidence tape caught her attention immediately.
“Who opened that?”
“I did.”
“Was the control number verified first?”
Derek’s expression tightened.
“I had probable cause.”
Patricia looked at him.
“That wasn’t my question.”
Aaron heard it.
So did Maya.
Details were beginning to resist the story Derek wanted.
The dash camera reached evidence processing next.
A property technician inspected the bag.
“What’s wrong with the device?”
“Media was corrupted in the field.”
“Did it power on?”
“Yes.”
“Any recoverable files?”
“No.”
Aaron spoke from several feet away.
“The camera appeared operational when it was removed.”
Derek turned toward him.
“You can write that in your supplemental if you need to.”
The technician looked between them.
“Storage status?”
Derek answered.
“Unreadable.”
Aaron memorized the exact word.
Chapter 6: Captain Hollis
Captain Russell Hollis arrived at headquarters at 8:12 p.m. wearing dark slacks and a white shirt with the top button open. At fifty-seven, he had worked for Cedar Ridge County for thirty years and had spent the last eight commanding patrol operations. He entered carrying gas-station coffee and the irritated expression of a man summoned from dinner over a problem he expected subordinates to have already solved.
“What happened?”
Derek pointed toward the case.
“Traffic stop became bigger.”
Russell read the label.
His expression changed.
He opened the first exposed folder.
Then looked at Derek.
“Who broke this seal?”
“I did.”
“Who else saw the contents?”
“Bell.”
Russell’s gaze moved toward Aaron.
Then toward the interview-room window.
Maya sat alone at a metal table with her hands folded.
She was not pacing.
Not shouting.
Not demanding that anybody recognize her.
Russell watched her for several seconds.
“Who is she?”
Derek shrugged.
“She won’t tell us.”
Russell looked at him.
“That usually means either she’s nobody or she knows exactly how much we haven’t figured out yet.”
He carried his coffee into the interview room.
“Ms. Whitfield, I’m Captain Russell Hollis.”
Maya nodded.
“I understand you were carrying restricted internal-review records.”
“I understand that’s what Deputy Maddox told you.”
Russell sat.
“Where did you get the case?”
“The control number is visible.”
“I saw it.”
“Then verify it.”
Russell studied her.