MITCHELL: "An automated system alert was generated after multiple records were flagged for inconsistent transfer activity."
KAREN: "When?"
MITCHELL: "Approximately twenty minutes ago."
Rebecca looked surprised.
REBECCA: "The system sent an alert outside the department?"
MITCHELL: "Yes. Certain irregularities trigger a review notification."
Kavalik folded his arms.
KAVALIK: "This is an internal misunderstanding. We don't need an investigation."
Mitchell turned toward him.
MITCHELL: "Sheriff, if the alert was generated automatically, the review process is already underway."
KAVALIK: "I can explain everything."
MITCHELL: "Then you will have an opportunity to do so."
Karen stepped forward.
KAREN: "I'm Judge Karen Ashworth-Reyes. I was stopped on Kingsley Road, threatened with a firearm, handcuffed, and transported here because Sheriff Kavalik claimed my motorcycle was stolen."
Mitchell listened without interrupting.
KAREN: "The vehicle was removed before its identification number was properly checked. I was brought into this building, verbally abused, and struck by the sheriff. My booking clerk then discovered that there was no theft report associated with the motorcycle."
Mitchell's expression became serious.
KAREN: "During the booking process, the department's printer began producing property transfer records. Several documents appear to show irregular movements of seized assets through a private storage company."
Mitchell looked toward Rebecca.
MITCHELL: "Can you show me the records?"
Rebecca nodded.
She moved aside so the inspector could examine the screen.
Mitchell read the information carefully.
The auditor opened his laptop and began comparing the entries against the department's official inventory database.
Kavalik looked from one person to another.
KAVALIK: "This department handles hundreds of property cases every month. There are going to be administrative errors."
MITCHELL: "That is possible."
KAVALIK: "Then we should be allowed to correct them."
MITCHELL: "Not before the original records have been preserved."
The sheriff's face tightened.
Mitchell continued reading.
MITCHELL: "Who authorized the transfers to Kingsland Recovery?"
Nobody answered.
She turned toward the property supervisor.
MITCHELL: "Were you responsible for approving these transactions?"
PROPERTY SUPERVISOR: "I approved certain routine storage movements."
MITCHELL: "Were the movements supported by court orders or documented forfeiture proceedings?"
PROPERTY SUPERVISOR: "The paperwork should be available."
MITCHELL: "That isn't what I asked."
The supervisor looked down.
Mitchell turned toward the auditor.
MITCHELL: "Please preserve the existing audit trail. I want copies of the original records, transfer histories, user access logs, and every modification associated with these property entries."
AUDITOR: "Understood."
Kavalik stepped forward.
KAVALIK: "You cannot just take over my department."
MITCHELL: "I'm not taking over your department. I'm preserving records that may be relevant to a formal investigation."
KAVALIK: "I am the elected sheriff."
MITCHELL: "And that does not place you outside the review process."
Karen remained quiet.
She did not need to dominate the conversation.
For the first time that afternoon, people with authority were asking questions that Kavalik could not simply silence.
The auditor opened the property transfer history.
He compared several records.
Then he looked at Rebecca.
AUDITOR: "Can you confirm that the entries displayed here are from the department's live system?"
REBECCA: "Yes."
AUDITOR: "And you did not modify them?"
REBECCA: "No. I only opened the records and reviewed their existing history."
The auditor nodded.
He continued examining the data.
After several minutes, he stopped at a transfer entry.
AUDITOR: "This is unusual."
MITCHELL: "What did you find?"
AUDITOR: "The system indicates that this vehicle was transferred to private storage before the seizure authorization was recorded."
He opened another entry.
AUDITOR: "This one has the same problem."
Then another.
AUDITOR: "And this one."
Mitchell moved closer.
MITCHELL: "How many?"
AUDITOR: "I haven't completed the review, but the pattern appears across multiple cases."
KAREN: "Can you establish whether the property was later returned to its owners?"
AUDITOR: "Some records show a return. Others show a transfer to a third party. Several have no final disposition."
Karen looked toward Osei.
KAREN: "Is that what you were describing?"
OSEI: "Yes."
Osei seemed relieved that someone else was finally confirming what he had witnessed.
He took a breath.
OSEI: "I saw vehicles moved to Kingsland Recovery even when the owners had not been convicted of anything. I asked why some of the records didn't match the transport logs."
Mitchell turned toward him.
MITCHELL: "Did you report those concerns?"
OSEI: "I tried."
MITCHELL: "To whom?"
OSEI: "The property supervisor. Later, I raised it with the sheriff."
Kavalik interrupted.
KAVALIK: "He never submitted a formal complaint."
OSEI: "I asked for an investigation."
KAVALIK: "You made accusations without evidence."
OSEI: "I asked why a vehicle could disappear from the official inventory while still appearing in the storage company's records."
The auditor looked up.
AUDITOR: "Do you have any documents supporting that?"
Osei nodded slowly.
OSEI: "I kept copies of the transport logs I was assigned to complete."
Kavalik stared at him.
KAVALIK: "You kept departmental records?"
OSEI: "I kept copies of the records I completed as part of my assigned duties."
MITCHELL: "Where are those copies?"
OSEI: "At home. I made them after I noticed that several original transport entries had been changed."
Mitchell looked at the auditor.
MITCHELL: "We'll arrange for those records to be collected through the proper process."
Kavalik shook his head.
KAVALIK: "This is absurd. You are allowing a disgruntled deputy to turn an ordinary administrative issue into a scandal."
Osei looked directly at him.