AMARA: "He already knows what happened. The question is whether you will allow someone to change the record."
Ethan looked at the blank report form.
For several seconds, he did not move.
Then he picked up his pen.
He began writing.
At that exact moment, the office door opened.
Sheriff Voss stepped out.
His eyes immediately went to the report.
SHERIFF VOSS: "What are you doing?"
Ethan stopped writing.
DEPUTY COLE: "Completing the incident report."
Voss walked toward him.
SHERIFF VOSS: "I told you to wait."
DEPUTY COLE: "You told me to enter the detention information. I'm documenting what happened."
Voss looked down at the page.
His expression darkened as he read the first few lines.
SHERIFF VOSS: "Give me that."
Ethan held the clipboard still.
DEPUTY COLE: "It's my report, Sheriff."
Voss stared at him.
SHERIFF VOSS: "You are making a very bad decision."
Before Ethan could respond, the station phone rang again.
Deputy Hill answered.
DEPUTY HILL: "Randolph County Sheriff's Office."
He listened for only a few seconds before standing up.
DEPUTY HILL: "Sheriff, it's another call from the federal courthouse."
Voss turned toward him.
SHERIFF VOSS: "Tell them I'm busy."
DEPUTY HILL: "They said a federal agent is on the way."
The room became silent.
Amara slowly lifted her eyes.
Voss looked at the deputy.
SHERIFF VOSS: "What federal agent?"
DEPUTY HILL: "Special Agent Rebecca Shaw. They said she needs to speak with you about Judge Whitlock."
For the first time since the incident began, Sheriff Dalton Voss looked genuinely afraid.
He glanced toward the locked drawer in his office.
Then he looked at the report in Ethan's hands.
And finally, he looked at Amara Whitlock.
She was still sitting quietly, her golden hair falling over her shoulders, the stains from her ruined lunch still visible on her blouse.
She met his eyes.
AMARA: "I told you someone would ask questions."
Voss did not answer.
Outside, a dark vehicle had just turned into the station parking lot.
And the woman stepping out of it was not there to discuss a routine detention.
The dark vehicle stopped in front of the Randolph County Sheriff's Office.
Special Agent Rebecca Shaw stepped out, followed by two federal investigators. She wore a dark navy suit, carried a leather document case, and moved with the calm confidence of someone who had already reviewed the facts before arriving.
She looked briefly at the station entrance, then at the security camera above the door.
Her expression was serious.
Inside, Sheriff Dalton Voss watched through the glass.
SHERIFF VOSS: "Nobody says anything until I speak to them."
Deputy Ethan Cole stood beside the booking desk, still holding his unfinished report.
DEPUTY COLE: "Sheriff, I think we should cooperate."
Voss turned toward him.
SHERIFF VOSS: "You have already done enough."
The front door opened.
Rebecca Shaw entered with the two investigators behind her. She presented her credentials to Deputy Marcus Hill, who immediately stepped aside.
AGENT SHAW: "I'm Special Agent Rebecca Shaw. I'm here regarding Judge Amara Whitlock."
DEPUTY HILL: "Yes, ma'am. She's inside."
AGENT SHAW: "Is she safe?"
Hill glanced toward Voss.
DEPUTY HILL: "She's in the booking area."
Rebecca's expression tightened.
AGENT SHAW: "I asked whether she's safe."
Before Hill could answer, Amara stood up.
AMARA: "Rebecca."
The agent turned immediately.
For the first time since entering the station, her face softened.
AGENT SHAW: "Judge Whitlock. Are you hurt?"
AMARA: "I'm physically all right. I need medical documentation of the injuries, and I need my property returned."
Rebecca looked at the stains on Amara's blouse and the redness on her cheek.
AGENT SHAW: "We'll arrange that. Did anyone prevent you from contacting your chambers?"
AMARA: "My phone was taken. I was not given a clear legal basis for the detention."
Rebecca turned toward Voss.
AGENT SHAW: "Sheriff, I need an explanation."
Voss stepped forward, attempting to regain his authority.
SHERIFF VOSS: "This is a local matter. We were conducting an investigation, and the woman became uncooperative."
AGENT SHAW: "You are referring to a sitting federal judge."
SHERIFF VOSS: "I didn't know who she was when I first approached her."
AMARA: "That does not change what happened."
Rebecca opened her document case.
AGENT SHAW: "Sheriff, I want the name of every officer who was present at the Kettle & Comb today."
SHERIFF VOSS: "You'll need to submit a formal request."
AGENT SHAW: "You will receive the appropriate paperwork. Right now, I need confirmation that Judge Whitlock's phone, handbag, wallet, and identification are being preserved."