“Your Honor, this is the latest evidence submitted to our office. It includes discrepancies between arrest reports, dispatch records, and property inventory logs.”
Natalie examined the first page.
Several names were familiar. She had seen them in earlier complaints, including the names of residents who claimed they had been stopped without justification and later struggled to recover their belongings.
NATALIE BROOKS:
“These are the same discrepancies I reviewed last month.”
DANIEL MERCER:
“Yes. But we found something else.”
He turned to another page.
DANIEL MERCER:
“Several records were accessed and modified after the original complaints were submitted. The changes were made using credentials assigned to senior personnel.”
Hayes immediately interrupted.
VICTOR HAYES:
“Anyone with access to the system could have done that.”
DANIEL MERCER:
“That's why we're examining the access logs.”
NATALIE BROOKS:
“Do the logs identify the accounts used?”
DANIEL MERCER:
“They do. We're still establishing who physically accessed the system.”
Natalie closed the folder.
NATALIE BROOKS:
“Then preserve every original record. No one should be making further changes while this review is underway.”
DANIEL MERCER:
“That's already being arranged.”
Hayes let out a short, bitter laugh.
VICTOR HAYES:
“So that's it? You walk in here, show everyone a few papers, and expect me to believe this is some federal operation?”
DANIEL MERCER:
“This isn't about what you believe, Sheriff.”
VICTOR HAYES:
“I've served this county for twenty-six years.”
NATALIE BROOKS:
“Then you should understand that public service does not place anyone above the law.”
The words silenced him.
Daniel turned toward Lieutenant Carter.
DANIEL MERCER:
“Lieutenant, I need the department's incident records for today, including the dispatch call that supposedly led to this encounter.”
Carter opened his folder.
JAMES CARTER:
“I can request the records from dispatch.”
DANIEL MERCER:
“Please do. And I need confirmation that the restaurant's surveillance footage is being preserved.”
Patricia Lewis stepped forward from behind the counter.
PATRICIA LEWIS:
“I have already secured the recording.”
DANIEL MERCER:
“Thank you. Please keep the original file intact.”
PATRICIA LEWIS:
“I will.”
Hayes turned toward Patricia.
VICTOR HAYES:
“You're making a serious mistake.”
Patricia looked directly at him.
PATRICIA LEWIS:
“The mistake was thinking nobody would ever speak up.”
A quiet murmur passed through the diner.
Natalie looked toward Martha and Walter.
NATALIE BROOKS:
“Both of you may be contacted later. If you are willing to provide statements, tell the truth about what you witnessed. You don't need to exaggerate anything.”
WALTER BENNETT:
“I'll tell them exactly what happened.”
MARTHA COLLINS:
“So will I.”
Daniel Mercer took out a small notebook.
DANIEL MERCER:
“I'll arrange for formal witness statements through the appropriate channels.”
Hayes shook his head.
VICTOR HAYES:
“This is all based on a misunderstanding. She came in here, refused to cooperate, and started making accusations.”
NATALIE BROOKS:
“Then the footage will help establish what happened.”
VICTOR HAYES:
“You don't know what that footage shows.”
PATRICIA LEWIS:
“I do.”
Hayes turned toward her.
PATRICIA LEWIS:
“My cameras recorded you walking directly to her booth. They recorded you taking her bowl. They recorded you throwing it at her. And they recorded you hitting her.”
For a moment, Hayes appeared ready to argue.
Then he noticed Daniel Mercer watching him.
The sheriff lowered his voice.
VICTOR HAYES:
“I want legal counsel before I answer anything else.”
DANIEL MERCER:
“You're entitled to seek legal advice. Nobody is asking you to answer questions without understanding your rights.”
Daniel turned to Natalie.
DANIEL MERCER:
“Your Honor, I'd also like to arrange a medical examination and document the visible injury.”
NATALIE BROOKS:
“That would be appropriate. Please make sure the examination is recorded independently.”
Martha brought a clean towel and placed it beside Natalie.
MARTHA COLLINS:
“Would you like me to get some ice?”
NATALIE BROOKS:
“Thank you, Martha. That would help.”
As Martha walked toward the kitchen, Natalie looked again at the documents.
One page contained a list of property seizures. Several entries had missing signatures. Others showed amounts that did not match the corresponding receipts.
She recognized one name near the bottom.
Walter Bennett.
Natalie looked up.
NATALIE BROOKS:
“Mr. Bennett, is this your name?”
Walter approached the table.
WALTER BENNETT:
“Let me see.”
He leaned forward and studied the document.
His expression changed.
WALTER BENNETT:
“That was my son's case.”
DANIEL MERCER:
“Your son?”
WALTER BENNETT: