Melissa entered the details.
Elena watched her carefully.
“Please record the condition of the screen and the time it was received.”
Melissa paused.
Then she added the information.
Mercer leaned over the counter.
“You know, you're making a lot of work for people who are just trying to do their jobs.”
Elena looked at him.
“I'm asking them to document what they're doing.”
“Same thing.”
“No. It isn't.”
Mercer shook his head and walked toward the fingerprint station.
“Get her processed.”
Melissa waited until he was out of earshot.
“Are you okay?”
Elena gave her a small, tired smile.
“I'm fine.”
“Do you need a lawyer?”
“Yes.”
“Do you want me to call one?”
“I would appreciate that.”
Melissa nodded.
“I'll get the list.”
She turned toward a filing cabinet.
Elena glanced at the booking camera, then back at Melissa.
“One more thing.”
“What?”
“If anyone asks you to delete or alter an entry tonight, please don't do it.”
Melissa's hand stopped on the cabinet drawer.
She looked at Elena for a long moment.
“Why would anyone do that?”
Elena did not answer.
She did not need to.
Melissa returned with the list of attorneys and placed it on the counter.
Then she quietly wrote the name of the duty supervisor on a separate sheet.
“Captain Robert Ellis is in his office,” she whispered. “He usually leaves at six, but he's still here today.”
“Thank you.”
Melissa stepped away.
Elena scanned the list and selected a local criminal defense attorney whose number she recognized from prior professional work. She requested the phone call.
Mercer returned before the call could be completed.
“What are you doing?”
“Requesting counsel,” Elena said.
“You haven't even been formally charged.”
“Then there should be no problem allowing me to call.”
Mercer looked at Melissa.
“Has she been processed?”
“Not completely.”
“Then finish it.”
Melissa glanced toward the hallway.
“Captain Ellis asked to be notified when a new arrest comes in.”
Mercer stared at her.
“Did he?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“He said he wanted to review the evening docket.”
Mercer gave a short laugh.
“Fine. I'll tell him myself.”
He took the paperwork and marched toward the supervisor's office.
Elena watched him go.
For the first time since the roadside stop, she allowed herself to take a deep breath.
The next few minutes would matter.
Not because she doubted the evidence.
Because she knew that evidence could be mishandled, records could be altered, and people could convince themselves that a lie was acceptable if it protected their careers.
She had to make sure the truth survived long enough to be examined.
Captain Robert Ellis had been sheriff's office supervisor for six years. He was fifty-two, with thinning hair, square glasses, and the careful manner of a man who had spent most of his career learning how to keep disputes from becoming public scandals.
He had not been an especially bad officer.
That was part of the problem.
Ellis had spent years making compromises that seemed small in isolation. He had allowed complaints to be handled informally. He had accepted vague explanations when reports contained inconsistencies. He had told junior officers not to challenge their colleagues in public.
When Mercer crossed a line, Ellis often found a way to describe the incident as a misunderstanding.
He believed he was protecting the department.
In reality, he was teaching Mercer that there would always be another excuse.
Mercer entered Ellis's office without knocking.
“Captain, I've got a woman in booking who needs to be watched.”
Ellis looked up from his desk.
“What's the charge?”
“Possession. White powder found in her vehicle.”
“Any prior history?”
“Don't know yet.”
“Did you test it?”
“Not yet.”
Ellis set down his pen.
“Then how do you know what it is?”
“I'm waiting on evidence processing.”
“Did you photograph where you found it?”
Mercer's expression hardened.
“Why does everyone keep asking me that?”
“Because it's a basic part of documenting evidence.”
“I know how to do my job.”
Ellis leaned back.
“I didn't say you didn't.”
“Then stop treating me like a rookie.”
The captain watched him for a moment.
“Why was she stopped?”
“Speeding.”
“Was a citation issued?”
“Not yet.”
“Did you have a radar reading?”
Mercer hesitated.
“I observed her driving at a high rate of speed.”
“How high?”
“Above the limit.”
Ellis rubbed his forehead.
“Daniel, I need details. Not impressions.”
Mercer shifted in his chair.
“She was argumentative. Wouldn't answer questions properly. Kept asking whether I had a warrant.”
“That's not unusual.”
“She was trying to tell me how to do my job.”
Ellis said nothing.
Mercer leaned forward.
“She also threatened me with a camera.”
“A camera?”
“She claimed she had me on video.”
Ellis's eyes narrowed.
“Did she?”
“I don't know.”
“Then you should find out before you write the report.”
Mercer stood.
“I'm not going to let some woman intimidate me.”
Ellis raised a hand.
“No one's asking you to. I'm asking you to make sure the arrest is properly documented.”
“It's documented.”
“Then bring me the footage.”