The driver stepped out.
It was Sergeant Laura Bennett, a forty-three-year-old officer with eighteen years of service and a reputation for being difficult to intimidate.
She closed the door and looked first at Tyler.
Then at David.
Then at the cash-shaped bulge in Tyler's uniform pocket.
Her expression changed.
"Officer Grant," she said, "step away from Mr. Morgan."
Tyler blinked.
"Sergeant, I can explain—"
"Not yet."
She turned to David.
"Sir, are you all right?"
"Yes, Sergeant."
"Has any force been used?"
"No."
"Do you require medical attention?"
"No."
She nodded.
Then she looked at Tyler again.
"Where is the money?"
Tyler's face went pale.
"What money?"
Sergeant Bennett did not raise her voice.
"The money you removed from Mr. Morgan's wallet."
Tyler glanced at David.
For the first time, he understood that the call had reached someone who already knew what to ask.
And somewhere inside Bellhaven's police department, the records that might explain why were beginning to surface.
CHAPTER 4 — SEVEN HUNDRED AND FORTY DOLLARS
Sergeant Bennett did not reach for Tyler's pocket.
She did not accuse him of a crime in front of David.
She did not announce that he was suspended or demand that he surrender his badge.
She simply stood beside the patrol car and asked the question again.
"Officer Grant, where is the money?"
Tyler swallowed.
"I retained it temporarily."
"Under what authority?"
"It may be connected to something."
"What something?"
"I was investigating a possible issue."
"What issue?"
Tyler's eyes shifted toward the highway.
"I hadn't determined that yet."
Bennett stared at him.
"You removed cash from a man's wallet before determining what offense you believed it was connected to?"
"Sergeant, the situation was more complicated than that."
"Then explain the complication."
Tyler opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
Bennett extended her hand.
"Please remove the money and place it on the hood of the patrol vehicle."
Tyler hesitated.
"Sergeant—"
"Now."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out the folded banknotes.
His fingers moved awkwardly as he placed them on the hood.
The wind lifted the corner of one bill.
Bennett held the money in place with two fingers.
"Mr. Morgan," she said, "do you recognize this as the money taken from your wallet?"
David examined the notes.
"Yes."
"Do you believe the full amount is present?"
"I believe so."
"Would you like to count it?"
"Yes, please."
Bennett stepped aside.
David counted the money slowly.
One hundred.
Two hundred.
Three hundred.
He arranged the notes in a neat stack.
When he finished, he looked up.
"Seven hundred and forty dollars."
Bennett nodded.
"Thank you."
She turned to Tyler.
"Did you issue a receipt for this money?"
"No."
"Did you enter it into evidence?"
"No."
"Did you notify dispatch that you were seizing property?"
"No."
"Did you obtain a warrant?"
"No."
"Did Mr. Morgan consent to the seizure?"
Tyler's jaw tightened.
"No."
Bennett held his gaze.
"Then tell me why the money was in your pocket."
Tyler looked toward David.
"He was acting suspicious."
"What did he do?"
"He had a large amount of cash."
"Possessing cash is not, by itself, an offense."
"I understand that."
"Do you?"
Tyler's face reddened.
"I was trying to determine where it came from."
"And did you ask him?"
"Yes."
"What did he say?"
"He said he withdrew it from a bank."
"Did you verify that statement?"
"No."
"Did you have a reason to believe he was lying?"
Tyler looked down.
"I don't know."
Bennett took a slow breath.
"Officer Grant, return to your vehicle. Do not alter any records or access any recordings related to this stop. I am contacting the watch commander."
Tyler looked shocked.
"You're taking his side?"
"I'm giving you an instruction."
"He called somebody and now everyone's treating me like I'm guilty."
Bennett's eyes hardened.
"No. I am asking you to account for money that you removed from a citizen's wallet and placed in your own pocket. Your response to that question is your responsibility."
Tyler stared at her.
Then he turned and walked toward his patrol car.
David waited until the officer was out of earshot.
"Sergeant, I appreciate your professionalism."
Bennett gave a tired smile.
"I wish I could tell you this was the first time I've had to ask an officer a question like that."
David studied her.
"How often has it happened?"
She looked toward Tyler's vehicle.
"I don't know. And that is part of the problem."
She lowered her voice.
"Mr. Morgan, I need to ask you something. Are you involved in any active investigation concerning this department?"
"Not one that I can discuss with you at this roadside stop."
"That sounds like a yes."
"It sounds like a request to follow the proper process."
Bennett almost smiled.
"You really do know how to answer a question without answering it."
"I have had practice."
She looked at his jacket, his shoes, and the old wallet he had returned to his pocket.
"I don't want you to think that I am treating you differently because of a phone call," she said. "I would ask the same questions if you were a delivery driver, a student, or someone sleeping in their car."
"Good."
"Because if this goes forward, people are going to ask why I intervened."
"They should."
"And I will need to document every step."
"You should do that, too."
Bennett nodded.
She returned to her cruiser and called the watch commander.