COLLEAGUE: "Your father is at the Clearwater County Sheriff's Department. The local system shows a booking entry, but there's no completed medical assessment attached."
TESSA: "What are the listed charges?"
COLLEAGUE: "Disorderly conduct and resisting an officer."
Tessa stared at the screen.
TESSA: "And the injury?"
COLLEAGUE: "Nothing specific in the initial entry."
Tessa took a slow breath.
TESSA: "He told me he was bleeding."
COLLEAGUE: "Then someone needs to document that immediately."
TESSA: "Exactly."
She opened a notebook and began recording the timeline.
The first call had come from Pine Ridge Diner.
Walter had been injured.
The sheriff had been present.
A second call had not connected.
He was now being held without a medical assessment appearing in the booking record.
Tessa knew that the information was incomplete. She did not want assumptions to become accusations, and she did not want anyone to mistake her concern for a request to bypass procedure.
She needed evidence.
She needed the witnesses.
And she needed the original footage before it could disappear.
She contacted another colleague who understood civilian law-enforcement procedures.
TESSA: "I need the appropriate channel for requesting preservation of surveillance footage from a private business. There was an incident at Pine Ridge Diner this morning."
COLLEAGUE: "Is the sheriff's department investigating?"
TESSA: "The sheriff is reportedly involved in the incident. I don't want the evidence handled only by the people whose actions are being questioned."
COLLEAGUE: "Understood. I'll help you identify the correct civilian oversight and legal contacts."
TESSA: "Thank you. Keep everything documented."
She ended the call.
For several seconds, she looked at the photograph on her desk.
It showed Walter standing beside her mother in front of their old house. His arm was around his wife's shoulders, and Tessa was standing between them with a wide smile.
Her father looked much younger in the photograph.
But his eyes were the same.
Tessa remembered the countless times he had encouraged her to remain composed under pressure. She remembered how he had taught her to distinguish between a person's title and their character.
A badge did not automatically make someone honorable.
A uniform did not excuse misconduct.
And authority did not remove accountability.
She placed the photograph back on the desk.
Then she made another call.
This time, she reached a civilian attorney who had previously helped her family with administrative matters.
TESSA: "I need advice regarding an incident involving my father in Clearwater County. He has been arrested after an altercation with the sheriff. He is injured, and the initial booking record does not show a medical assessment."
ATTORNEY: "Do you know whether he has been formally charged?"
TESSA: "The department has entered two allegations. I have not seen the complete paperwork."
ATTORNEY: "Has he requested medical attention?"
TESSA: "Yes. I need that request documented. I also want to make sure the diner footage and witness accounts are preserved."
ATTORNEY: "Do not contact the sheriff directly. We should establish the facts first."
TESSA: "Agreed."
ATTORNEY: "And don't use your military position to pressure the department. Keep this within the appropriate civilian channels."
Tessa nodded.
TESSA: "That is exactly what I intend to do."
She ended the call and looked at the clock.
She needed to get to Clearwater County.
Not to make a scene.
Not to threaten anyone.
She needed to see her father, ensure he received proper care, and find out why a man with no criminal history had been treated as though he were a dangerous offender.
Back inside the holding room, Walter had begun to feel cold.
The metal bench was uncomfortable, and his injured shoulder had stiffened. He pressed the handkerchief against his temple again.
The bleeding had slowed, but the pain had not.
He looked toward the small window.
A shadow moved across it.
Then footsteps approached.
The door opened.
Deputy Cole stood outside.
COLE: "Mr. Hayes, can you stand?"
Walter slowly rose.
WALTER: "I can try."
Cole unlocked the handcuffs, but only long enough to adjust them before securing Walter's wrists again in front of him.
COLE: "I'm taking you back to the corridor."
Walter looked at him.
WALTER: "Why?"
COLE: "The sheriff wants to speak with you."
WALTER: "I thought he had already said everything he wanted to say."
Cole did not answer.
He escorted Walter out of the holding room.
The corridor was busier now. Two officers were speaking near the reception area, and the clerk was sorting paperwork behind the front desk.
Hollister stood outside his office.
He looked at Walter and motioned toward the gray wall.
HOLLISTER: "Over here."
Walter stopped.
WALTER: "I would prefer to speak with you while seated."
HOLLISTER: "You don't get to choose."
Walter slowly turned toward the wall.
Cole stood nearby.
Hollister approached and grabbed the front of Walter's jacket again, pulling him closer.
The sudden movement caused Walter to lose his balance. His shoulder struck the wall, and he winced.
COLE: "Sheriff, that's enough."
Hollister turned toward him.