HAYES: "I need confirmation that his government document case remains sealed."
WALLACE: "It does."
HAYES: "Has anyone accessed it?"
"No."
"Has it been moved?"
Wallace glanced toward the property room.
"It was placed in secure storage."
HAYES: "Who has access to that room?"
"Authorized department personnel."
HAYES: "I need the names of everyone who entered the property room after the case was logged."
Wallace hesitated.
"I can provide that information."
HAYES: "Thank you. We also need the original inventory record and the time the case was received."
Wallace nodded.
"Understood."
HAYES: "One additional request. Please confirm whether General Ellison has been allowed to contact his legal representative."
Wallace looked toward the interview room.
"He has been given access to a telephone."
HAYES: "Good. Please ensure that his communication remains private."
Wallace agreed.
The call ended.
He stood up and walked toward the property room.
The black document case was sitting inside a locked cabinet.
A white evidence label had been attached to the handle.
Wallace checked the number.
Then he looked at the access log.
Two officers had entered the room since the case had been secured.
One was the corrections supervisor.
The other was the property clerk.
Wallace wrote down their names.
He was about to leave when he noticed something on the shelf below the cabinet.
A small envelope.
It contained the printed copy of Marcus's federal identification record.
Wallace picked it up.
He stared at the page.
Then he returned it to the cabinet.
He had spent years telling people that the law applied to everyone.
Now he was discovering how important it was to understand what that actually meant.
At 4:25 p.m., Robert Ellis arrived at the station.
He walked straight into Wallace's office.
ROBERT ELLIS: "Show me the arrest report."
Wallace handed it over.
Robert read the document carefully.
Then he looked at the sheriff.
ROBERT ELLIS: "This is incomplete."
SHERIFF WALLACE: "It's the initial report."
ROBERT ELLIS: "It doesn't explain the legal basis for the detention."
Wallace leaned forward.
"He refused instructions."
ROBERT ELLIS: "Which instructions?"
Wallace opened his mouth.
Robert raised a hand.
"Don't answer until you have the exact sequence in front of you."
He placed the report on the desk.
ROBERT ELLIS: "Where is the body-camera footage?"
"Deputy Miller has it."
"Have you preserved the original file?"
"Yes."
"Dispatch recording?"
"Preserved."
"Any radio communication before you arrived?"
Wallace looked toward the computer.
"We'll retrieve it."
Robert sighed.
"Raymond, I need to know what happened before you made the arrest."
Wallace looked at him.
"I received information that someone was interfering with a property inspection."
ROBERT ELLIS: "Who provided the information?"
Wallace hesitated.
"One of the contractors."
"Name?"
"Charles Bennett."
Robert wrote it down.
"Did you know whether he had legal authority to remove the equipment?"
"I was told there was a dispute."
"Did you verify the ownership?"
"No."
"Did you verify the inspection authorization?"
"No."
Robert looked at him.
"Then why did you arrest the person who was asking you to verify it?"
Wallace's face tightened.
"I believed he was interfering."
ROBERT ELLIS: "Belief is not a substitute for evidence."
The sheriff looked away.
Robert continued.
"Has the Pentagon asked for his release?"
"They've asked us to review the situation."
"That's not the same thing."
Wallace said nothing.
Robert closed the folder.
"We need to determine whether there is any legal basis to continue holding him. I will review the evidence and contact the county's judicial office."
Wallace nodded reluctantly.
At 4:42 p.m., Thomas Bennett, a federal logistics investigator, arrived at the station with two colleagues.
He presented his credentials at reception.
Natalie immediately notified the sheriff.
Wallace came out of his office.
"How can I help you?"
THOMAS BENNETT: "I'm here regarding General Marcus Ellison and the government equipment reported at the Redhaven transportation depot."
Wallace shook his hand.
"I'm Sheriff Wallace."
Bennett introduced his colleagues.
Then he opened a folder.
THOMAS BENNETT: "We have photographs taken by General Ellison before his detention. We need to verify the location of the equipment and establish who arranged its removal."
Wallace looked at the photographs.
The utility truck was clearly visible.
The containers could be identified by their serial numbers.
THOMAS BENNETT: "Do you recognize this vehicle?"
Wallace studied the image.
"I believe I've seen it before."
"Where?"
"At the depot."
"Do you know who owns it?"
"I'll need to check."
Bennett placed another photograph on the counter.
It showed one of the workers standing near the loading bay.
THOMAS BENNETT: "Do you recognize this individual?"
Wallace looked at the image.
"That might be Charles Bennett."
"Is he connected to your department?"
"He's a local contractor."
Bennett made a note.
"Did he contact you before the arrest?"
Wallace hesitated.
"Yes."
"What did he tell you?"
"He reported suspicious activity."
"Did he say that government equipment was being removed?"
Wallace looked at the photograph again.
"He said there was an unauthorized person interfering with the transfer."
Bennett's expression remained neutral.
"Did he provide documents?"
"He said the transfer was approved."
"Did you verify that?"
"No."
Bennett closed the folder.
"Then we'll need to speak with him."
Wallace nodded.
Bennett glanced toward the holding corridor.
"Where is General Ellison?"
"In a private interview room."
"May we speak with him?"
Wallace looked toward Robert Ellis.
The county attorney nodded.