Voss looked at Amara.
SHERIFF DALTON VOSS: "She's here."
FEDERAL COURT REPRESENTATIVE: "Is she being detained?"
Voss hesitated.
SHERIFF DALTON VOSS: "We're conducting an investigation."
FEDERAL COURT REPRESENTATIVE: "I need a direct answer. Is Judge Whitlock in your custody?"
Voss looked at Ethan.
Then at the booking officer.
Then at the handcuffs around Amara's wrists.
SHERIFF DALTON VOSS: "Yes."
The voice on the other end became colder.
FEDERAL COURT REPRESENTATIVE: "Do not move her, do not interfere with her communications, and do not alter or destroy any records connected to this incident. Federal personnel are being notified."
Voss tightened his grip on the phone.
SHERIFF DALTON VOSS: "I know how to run my department."
FEDERAL COURT REPRESENTATIVE: "Then you should have no difficulty preserving the evidence."
The call ended.
For several seconds, the sheriff remained motionless.
Amara watched him.
AMARA WHITLOCK: "Now you understand that people are looking for me."
Voss slowly placed the receiver down.
SHERIFF DALTON VOSS: "This is getting out of hand."
AMARA WHITLOCK: "It was out of hand when you threw my food at me."
Ethan looked down.
He could no longer ignore the truth.
The incident had begun with a plate of food.
It had become an arrest without a clear legal basis.
And now federal authorities were demanding answers.
But Voss still had one more decision to make.
He could release Amara, preserve the evidence, and allow the matter to be investigated.
Or he could continue trying to control a situation that was rapidly moving beyond his reach.
He looked toward the property bag.
The phone inside began vibrating again.
This time, the screen displayed a message from Special Agent Rebecca Shaw.
"FEDERAL INVESTIGATORS ARE EN ROUTE. PRESERVE ALL RECORDS."
Voss read the notification through the plastic.
His face became rigid.
He turned toward Ethan.
SHERIFF DALTON VOSS: "Nobody says a word about this to anyone until I decide what we're doing."
Ethan looked at him.
DEPUTY ETHAN COLE: "Sheriff, we can't hide what happened."
Voss stepped closer.
SHERIFF DALTON VOSS: "You want to keep your job, Deputy? Then you will do exactly what I tell you."
Amara watched the two men.
She had heard enough.
The sheriff was no longer simply defending an arrest.
He was trying to prevent the truth from leaving the building.
And that was the moment she understood that the diner incident might be only the beginning of something much larger.
The phone continued vibrating inside the property bag.
Sheriff Dalton Voss stared at the notification from Special Agent Rebecca Shaw.
"FEDERAL INVESTIGATORS ARE EN ROUTE. PRESERVE ALL RECORDS."
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Deputy Ethan Cole stood beside the booking counter, watching his superior. The booking officer remained seated, his hands hovering above the keyboard. Amara Whitlock stood between them, her wrists still secured behind her back.
Voss finally turned toward Ethan.
SHERIFF DALTON VOSS: "Take her into the holding area."
Ethan did not move.
DEPUTY ETHAN COLE: "Sheriff, the federal court specifically instructed us not to move her."
SHERIFF DALTON VOSS: "I heard what they said."
DEPUTY ETHAN COLE: "Then why are we moving her?"
Voss stepped closer.
SHERIFF DALTON VOSS: "Because this is my department, and I decide where detainees are held."
AMARA WHITLOCK: "You are not entitled to disregard a lawful instruction simply because it came from someone outside your department."
Voss turned toward her.
SHERIFF DALTON VOSS: "You can save your lectures for the courtroom."
AMARA WHITLOCK: "I intend to."
The sheriff looked toward the booking officer.
SHERIFF DALTON VOSS: "Finish the paperwork."
BOOKING OFFICER: "Sir, I haven't received a copy of the incident report."
SHERIFF DALTON VOSS: "Then write one."
BOOKING OFFICER: "Based on what information?"
Voss's eyes narrowed.
SHERIFF DALTON VOSS: "Based on what happened."
The booking officer glanced at Amara.
BOOKING OFFICER: "I wasn't at the diner."
SHERIFF DALTON VOSS: "You're not being asked to write a novel. Complete the form."
The officer looked increasingly uncomfortable.
Amara understood what was happening.
Voss was attempting to create an official record after the fact, one that might make the detention appear more legitimate than it had been.
AMARA WHITLOCK: "I want the time of that instruction recorded."
Voss ignored her.
AMARA WHITLOCK: "And I want the booking officer's name included in the record."
The officer swallowed.
BOOKING OFFICER: "My name is Robert Jenkins."
AMARA WHITLOCK: "Thank you, Mr. Jenkins."
Voss struck the counter with his palm.
SHERIFF DALTON VOSS: "This is not a courtroom!"
AMARA WHITLOCK: "No. It is a sheriff's office. That is precisely why the procedures matter."
***
The first federal vehicle arrived eleven minutes later.
It was an unmarked black SUV followed by a second vehicle carrying two investigators. They entered the building through the main reception area, identified themselves, and requested immediate access to Sheriff Voss.
The receptionist called the booking area.
RECEPTIONIST: "Sheriff, federal agents are here."
Voss closed his eyes briefly.
He had hoped to gain enough time to speak with the county attorney before anyone arrived.
That opportunity had disappeared.
He looked at Ethan.
SHERIFF DALTON VOSS: "Stay here."