"May I ask why?"
Peter looked toward the hallway.
"The director has instructed us not to release those documents."
"Was there a legal order restricting access?"
"I don't know."
"Has my request been denied in writing?"
Peter shook his head.
Claire removed the confirmation email from her folder.
"Then could you please ask Ms. Price to explain the change?"
The clerk hesitated.
Before he could answer, a man in a navy uniform entered the lobby.
Deputy Logan Pierce.
He was in his early forties, broad-shouldered, and known around town for having little patience with people who questioned his authority.
"Is there a problem here?" he asked.
Peter immediately stepped away from the counter.
Claire stood.
"I have an appointment to inspect public records. The appointment was confirmed, but now someone has canceled it without providing an explanation."
Pierce glanced at the paperwork.
"You're being asked to leave."
"Who made that decision?"
"The administration."
"Which person in the administration?"
"That's not your concern."
Claire took a slow breath.
"I would like the name of the official who denied access to the records."
Pierce moved closer.
"I've already told you to leave."
Claire collected her documents.
"Fine. I'll leave. But I would like the denial documented."
She turned toward the entrance.
Pierce followed her.
Just before she reached the door, he stepped in front of her.
"Hand me that folder."
Claire frowned.
"Why?"
"I need to inspect what you're carrying."
"Those are my personal documents."
"Give me the folder."
"No."
The next few seconds happened quickly.
Pierce grabbed the edge of the folder.
Claire pulled it back.
Several pages slipped out and scattered across the floor.
One document slid beneath the reception desk.
Another landed near the deputy's boots.
Pierce raised his voice.
"Stop resisting!"
Claire stepped backward.
"I am not resisting. You're trying to take my property."
Pierce grabbed her wrist.
She pulled away instinctively.
He twisted her arm behind her back and pushed her against the wall.
"You are under arrest."
Claire looked toward the receptionist.
"Please remember what happened."
The clerk said nothing.
Pierce tightened the handcuffs.
"Save your explanations for the sheriff."
Claire looked down at the scattered documents.
One of them contained the name of a company that had received nearly $700,000 in unexplained county payments.
She knew that document was important.
But she also knew that arguing with Pierce would accomplish nothing.
As he escorted her outside, she made one final request.
"Make sure the lobby cameras are preserved."
Pierce laughed.
"You really think anyone around here cares about your little investigation?"
Claire didn't answer.
She simply remembered the time.
9:52 a.m.
And she remembered exactly where the cameras were pointing.
At the Redstone County Sheriff's Office, Deputy Marcus Reed received Claire's belongings and began the booking process.
He had worked for the department for six years.
He wasn't particularly close to Sheriff Whitaker, but he had learned that questioning decisions made by senior officers could create unnecessary problems.
When Pierce handed him the arrest paperwork, Reed noticed something unusual.
The initial narrative described a disagreement over an instruction to leave the municipal building.
It stated that Claire had pulled her arm away when Pierce attempted to detain her.
That was all.
There was no mention of an assault.
There was no allegation that she had threatened anyone.
And there was no statement that she had attempted to enter a restricted area.
Reed entered the basic information into the booking system.
Then he noticed a new document appear.
It was an updated version of Pierce's report.
He opened it.
His eyebrows slowly moved together.
The revised report contained three additional allegations.
First, it claimed Claire had attempted to force her way into a restricted administrative office.
Second, it stated that she had deliberately struck Pierce in the shoulder.
Third, it alleged that she had threatened to use her former government position to interfere with the sheriff's department.
Reed read the document twice.
Something wasn't right.
He remembered the first report.
He was certain those statements hadn't been there.
When Claire received a copy of the revised paperwork, she immediately noticed the differences.
"Who added these statements?" she asked.
Reed shifted in his chair.
"I don't know."
"Can you check the revision history?"
"That's not part of my job."
"Then please tell whoever is responsible that the original needs to be preserved."
Reed looked toward the sheriff's office.
"You should discuss that with Sheriff Whitaker."
"That's exactly what I intend to do."
A few minutes later, Whitaker appeared.
He walked through the booking area holding a cup of coffee.
"What's all this about?"
Reed explained the situation.
Whitaker looked at Claire.
"You've been here less than an hour, and you're already causing problems."
Claire held up the revised report.
"I would like to know why the allegations in this document are different from the original report."
"The officer provided additional details."
"Was there a supplemental statement?"
"That's none of your concern."
"Did anyone review the body-camera footage?"
Whitaker took a sip of coffee.
"You're not in a position to question our procedures."
Claire placed the paper on the bench.
"Then perhaps you can explain why an officer's account changed after I was arrested."
The sheriff's expression hardened.
"Are you accusing my department of falsifying evidence?"
"I'm asking you to preserve the original."
Whitaker leaned toward the bars.
"You know what your problem is? You think your old government job makes you special."
Claire looked at him.