Osei stepped forward.
DEPUTY OSEI: "Those are the records we need most."
Kavalik moved quickly toward the desk.
SHERIFF KAVALIK: "Nobody touches that system again."
Naomi raised her hand slightly.
NAOMI WHITLOCK: "Sheriff, step away from the workstation."
Kavalik stopped.
He looked at Naomi.
For a moment, his expression suggested that he might continue arguing.
Then he noticed the other officers watching him.
He stepped back.
Naomi turned to Rebecca.
NAOMI WHITLOCK: "Can you identify when that cleanup request was created?"
Rebecca opened the details.
The request had been created several days earlier.
The scheduled operation was due to begin at midnight.
Naomi examined the authorization field.
One name appeared as the requester.
Another appeared as the approving administrator.
The approval field was incomplete.
REBECCA NOLAN: "It looks like the request was created through the property administration account."
NAOMI WHITLOCK: "Can you see the individual who submitted it?"
Rebecca searched the activity log.
A list of access events appeared.
The system showed that multiple users had accessed the account during the previous month.
Some entries were associated with the sheriff's administrative office.
Others were connected to the property department.
One entry came from a workstation assigned to the chief administrative clerk.
Naomi looked at the list.
NAOMI WHITLOCK: "Who is the chief administrative clerk?"
Rebecca answered carefully.
REBECCA NOLAN: "Martin Greaves."
Osei looked toward her.
DEPUTY OSEI: "Martin handles the county property records."
REBECCA NOLAN: "He also coordinates the department's administrative approvals."
Naomi looked at the account history.
NAOMI WHITLOCK: "Does he have authority to approve the deletion of evidence records?"
Rebecca shook her head.
REBECCA NOLAN: "Not without the appropriate authorization."
Naomi looked toward Kavalik.
NAOMI WHITLOCK: "Then we need to know who approved this request."
Kavalik's expression became rigid.
SHERIFF KAVALIK: "You are making assumptions based on incomplete information."
NAOMI WHITLOCK: "I'm asking questions based on the information your own system has produced."
The sheriff said nothing.
Naomi looked at the clock on the wall.
The longer they remained in the booking area, the greater the chance that someone might attempt to change the records.
She needed independent assistance.
She also needed to ensure that her position as a federal judge did not compromise the process.
She could not simply take control of a local investigation because she had been mistreated by a sheriff.
Any examination of the department's conduct would need to be handled through the proper legal channels, with independent oversight and verifiable evidence.
She reached for her phone.
Kavalik immediately noticed.
SHERIFF KAVALIK: "Who are you calling?"
NAOMI WHITLOCK: "My attorney."
SHERIFF KAVALIK: "You don't need an attorney for this."
NAOMI WHITLOCK: "That is not your decision."
She dialed a number.
The call connected after several rings.
MARGARET ELLIS: "Naomi?"
NAOMI WHITLOCK: "Margaret, I need your help. I'm at the Kingsley County Sheriff's Department."
MARGARET ELLIS: "What happened?"
Naomi glanced toward the sheriff.
NAOMI WHITLOCK: "I was stopped on Kingsley Road. The sheriff pointed a gun at me, handcuffed me, and had my motorcycle towed. At the station, he struck me while I was restrained."
There was a pause.
MARGARET ELLIS: "Are you injured?"
NAOMI WHITLOCK: "I have a small facial injury. I'm otherwise all right."
MARGARET ELLIS: "Do you need medical attention?"
NAOMI WHITLOCK: "I will have the injury documented. But there is something more serious. We have discovered irregularities in the department's property seizure records."
Margaret's tone became more serious.
MARGARET ELLIS: "What kind of irregularities?"
NAOMI WHITLOCK: "A recovery request was entered before my traffic stop. My motorcycle was taken by Kingsland Recovery. The department's records show repeated transfers to the same company, and there appear to be internal targets based on the value of seized property."
MARGARET ELLIS: "Do you have copies?"
NAOMI WHITLOCK: "Some printed records. There are also pending administrative changes scheduled for the archive."
MARGARET ELLIS: "Do not attempt to investigate the department yourself. Preserve what has already been generated, avoid accessing anything outside your authorization, and contact the appropriate independent authorities."
NAOMI WHITLOCK: "That's what I intend to do."
MARGARET ELLIS: "And Naomi, because of your judicial position, we need to be especially careful. You cannot personally direct an investigation involving your own incident. We need independent investigators, independent evidence preservation, and a clear record of every action."
Naomi looked toward the printed pages.
NAOMI WHITLOCK: "I understand."
MARGARET ELLIS: "I'll come to the station. Don't sign anything you haven't reviewed. Don't agree to any informal resolution. And make sure the assault is documented."
NAOMI WHITLOCK: "All right."
She ended the call.
Kavalik had been watching her.
SHERIFF KAVALIK: "I hope you're not planning to turn this into a media circus."
Naomi placed her phone on the counter.
NAOMI WHITLOCK: "I'm planning to make sure the facts are preserved."
Kavalik looked toward the documents.
SHERIFF KAVALIK: "The department has procedures for handling complaints."
NAOMI WHITLOCK: "Then follow them."
A few minutes later, Margaret Ellis arrived at the station.
She was a composed woman in her early 50s, dressed in a dark navy suit and carrying a leather briefcase. She had known Naomi for years and had represented her in several personal legal matters before Naomi's appointment to the federal bench.
Margaret entered the booking area and immediately noticed the small injury on Naomi's face.
MARGARET ELLIS: "Naomi."
Naomi gave her a brief nod.