The property inventory had been created at 1:47 p.m.
The first version of the incident report had been saved at 2:03 p.m.
But a later version had been modified at 2:26 p.m.
Daniel opened the audit history.
The original description had read: "Subject detained by order of Sheriff Mercer following confrontation at Oakwood Diner."
The revised version read: "Subject detained following suspected interference with an active law enforcement matter."
Daniel stared at the screen.
He called Rebecca.
INVESTIGATOR DANIEL FOSTER: "We have a modified report."
SPECIAL AGENT REBECCA SHAW: "Who modified it?"
INVESTIGATOR DANIEL FOSTER: "The account belongs to Sheriff Mercer."
Rebecca looked toward the hallway.
SPECIAL AGENT REBECCA SHAW: "Preserve the original and the revision history. Don't confront him yet."
Daniel nodded.
INVESTIGATOR DANIEL FOSTER: "There's another issue. The report was changed after the federal office contacted the station."
Rebecca's expression tightened.
SPECIAL AGENT REBECCA SHAW: "Document the timestamps."
A moment later, she stepped into the hallway.
Mercer was standing beside the water fountain.
SPECIAL AGENT REBECCA SHAW: "Sheriff, we need to discuss the incident report."
SHERIFF GRANT MERCER: "What about it?"
SPECIAL AGENT REBECCA SHAW: "The audit history shows that you modified the description after our first telephone call."
Mercer shrugged.
SHERIFF GRANT MERCER: "Reports get updated. That's normal."
SPECIAL AGENT REBECCA SHAW: "What new information did you receive between the original report and the revision?"
SHERIFF GRANT MERCER: "I was clarifying the circumstances."
SPECIAL AGENT REBECCA SHAW: "What circumstances?"
SHERIFF GRANT MERCER: "You keep asking the same questions."
SPECIAL AGENT REBECCA SHAW: "Because the answers keep changing."
Mercer stared at her.
SHERIFF GRANT MERCER: "You people think a federal badge gives you the right to come into my station and accuse me of anything you want."
SPECIAL AGENT REBECCA SHAW: "No. Evidence gives us the right to ask questions."
Mercer turned away.
Rebecca did not follow him.
She had learned enough to know that pressure alone would not make him confess. The records, witnesses, and communications would have to establish what happened.
And the sheriff's own phone might contain the missing connection.
The next lead came from a number listed in Mercer's recent call history.
Thomas McAllister.
At 1:31 p.m., just minutes after Elena's identity had been discovered, Mercer had called him.
At 1:36 p.m., McAllister had called back.
At 2:12 p.m., another call had taken place.
The investigators requested preservation of the relevant records and began examining the relationship between the sheriff and Northbridge Development Group.
Mercer was no longer simply a local officer accused of mistreating a diner customer.
He was a potential witness in a broader investigation involving complaints about land acquisition, intimidation, and the use of local authority to pressure residents.
At the same time, Elena's phone was recovered.
It had been placed in a property cabinet, but the investigators documented its condition before returning it. Several missed calls appeared on the screen.
The first was from Daniel Price.
The second was from an unknown number.
The third was from a courthouse security office.
Elena checked the time.
ELENA HAYES: "I need to call my clerk."
Rebecca handed her the phone.
SPECIAL AGENT REBECCA SHAW: "Of course."
Elena dialed Daniel.
He answered almost immediately.
DANIEL PRICE: "Judge Hayes?"
ELENA HAYES: "Daniel."
DANIEL PRICE: "Thank God. Are you all right?"
ELENA HAYES: "I'm safe now."
DANIEL PRICE: "I've been trying to reach you for hours. We contacted the courthouse, and they sent the information to the appropriate office. I didn't know where you were."
ELENA HAYES: "I'm sorry you were left worrying."
DANIEL PRICE: "What happened?"
Elena glanced toward Rebecca.
ELENA HAYES: "The sheriff detained me after an incident at the diner. Federal investigators are handling it now."
Daniel went quiet.
DANIEL PRICE: "Was it related to the Northbridge inquiry?"
ELENA HAYES: "I don't know yet. But I believe we need to look carefully at every connection."
DANIEL PRICE: "I have the documents you requested. I found something in the county's land transfer records."
ELENA HAYES: "What did you find?"
DANIEL PRICE: "Several property transfers were approved after complaints had been filed. In at least three cases, the original complaints were marked as resolved before the owners signed any agreement."
Elena's expression grew serious.
ELENA HAYES: "Preserve every document. Don't contact anyone involved yet. Send the records through the secure channel."