OSEI: "I wasn't the one who arranged a tow truck before checking whether a motorcycle was stolen."
The sheriff fell silent.
Karen glanced toward the clock.
The afternoon had almost disappeared.
She had originally expected to spend no more than an hour riding her father's motorcycle.
Instead, she had uncovered a possible system of property seizures that might have been operating for years.
But she still needed to know what had happened to her Ducati.
KAREN: "Inspector Mitchell, I need the current location of my motorcycle."
Mitchell turned toward the auditor.
MITCHELL: "Can you check the recovery transfer?"
The auditor entered the vehicle information.
He reviewed the transport record.
AUDITOR: "The motorcycle was transferred to Kingsland Recovery & Storage."
KAREN: "When?"
AUDITOR: "The transport record shows it arrived approximately forty minutes ago."
KAREN: "Who signed for it?"
The auditor opened the receipt.
AUDITOR: "A person listed as a facility manager."
KAREN: "Was the motorcycle entered into the official evidence inventory?"
The auditor checked.
AUDITOR: "No."
Karen's expression hardened.
KAREN: "So the vehicle has been physically transferred to a private facility, but there is no completed evidence inventory?"
AUDITOR: "That is what the current records indicate."
Mitchell turned toward Kavalik.
MITCHELL: "Sheriff, why was this motorcycle transferred before the inventory was completed?"
Kavalik looked toward the property supervisor.
KAVALIK: "The recovery company was instructed to transport it for safekeeping."
MITCHELL: "By whom?"
KAVALIK: "The department."
MITCHELL: "Which officer authorized the transfer?"
Kavalik did not answer.
Mitchell waited.
Finally, Rebecca spoke.
REBECCA: "The transport request was created under Sheriff Kavalik's account."
The sheriff turned sharply.
KAVALIK: "You have no business making that statement."
REBECCA: "It's what the system shows."
The auditor confirmed it.
AUDITOR: "The request was submitted using the sheriff's user credentials."
Mitchell made a note.
MITCHELL: "We will need the original request and the account access history."
Kavalik's face had become pale.
He looked toward the entrance.
For a moment, Karen thought he might simply walk away.
Instead, he turned toward her.
KAVALIK: "Judge, I think we should discuss this privately."
KAREN: "No."
KAVALIK: "There are things you may not understand."
KAREN: "Then explain them here."
KAVALIK: "This is not the place."
KAREN: "You seemed comfortable discussing my supposed criminal behavior in front of everyone on Kingsley Road."
Kavalik looked away.
KAREN: "You were comfortable ordering my arrest in front of Deputy Halverson. You were comfortable striking me in this booking area. You were comfortable taking my father's motorcycle without checking its ownership."
Her voice remained steady.
KAREN: "Now that your own records are being examined, you want a private conversation."
Mitchell stepped closer.
MITCHELL: "Sheriff, you will have an opportunity to provide a statement during the investigation. For now, I need you to refrain from accessing the property database."
Kavalik stared at her.
KAVALIK: "You're suspending my access?"
MITCHELL: "I'm requesting that your access be restricted while the audit is underway."
KAVALIK: "You cannot do that without approval."
MITCHELL: "The appropriate authorization is being obtained."
The auditor began securing the relevant records.
He did not delete or edit anything.
Instead, he created a preservation copy and documented the system activity.
Rebecca watched carefully.
She seemed relieved that someone was finally taking her concerns seriously.
Then Mitchell turned toward her.
MITCHELL: "Ms. Nolan, I need you to describe exactly what happened when the records began printing."
Rebecca nodded.
She explained how the printer had started without a request, how she had examined the first document, and how the transfer history appeared inconsistent.
She also described the moment when Karen's identity appeared in the booking system.
Mitchell listened.
MITCHELL: "Did Sheriff Kavalik instruct you to stop reviewing the records?"
REBECCA: "Several times."
MITCHELL: "Did he attempt to interfere with the workstation?"
REBECCA: "Yes."
MITCHELL: "Did you alter or delete any information?"
REBECCA: "No."
Mitchell thanked her.
Then she turned toward Halverson.
MITCHELL: "Deputy, I understand you were present during the roadside stop."
Halverson straightened.
DEPUTY HALVERSON: "Yes."
MITCHELL: "Did you observe the sheriff point his firearm at Judge Ashworth-Reyes?"
DEPUTY HALVERSON: "Yes."
MITCHELL: "Was the motorcycle's VIN checked before she was handcuffed?"
DEPUTY HALVERSON: "No."
MITCHELL: "Was a theft report confirmed?"
DEPUTY HALVERSON: "No."
MITCHELL: "Did you witness the sheriff strike her inside this building?"
Halverson looked at Karen.
Then he answered.
DEPUTY HALVERSON: "Yes."
Mitchell wrote down his statement.
MITCHELL: "Thank you. You may be asked to provide a formal account."
Halverson nodded.
The sheriff's expression had become increasingly hostile.
KAVALIK: "This is a setup."
MITCHELL: "You have the right to provide your response through the appropriate process."
KAVALIK: "I know my rights."
MITCHELL: "Then you should understand why preserving evidence is important."
The auditor continued reviewing the records.
A few minutes later, he discovered a series of transactions that connected the department's transfer codes to the private recovery company.
The entries showed repeated movements of vehicles from official custody into private storage.
Some records included fees charged to the owners.
Others included auction references.
Several showed the same administrative approval code.
The auditor opened one particular file.
AUDITOR: "Inspector, I think you need to see this."
Mitchell approached.
The document showed a vehicle that had been seized during a traffic stop.
The official report described the property as evidence.
But the storage company's record indicated that it had later been sold.
There was no final court order in the department's system.