SHERIFF VOSS: "I didn't know who she was."
THOMAS MCALLISTER: "That is not the defense you think it is."
The call ended.
Voss stared at the phone.
For years, McAllister had assured him that the county's financial arrangements were legitimate and that every payment could be explained. Voss had accepted those assurances because the arrangement benefited people he trusted.
But now McAllister was speaking as if Voss were a liability.
He opened the locked drawer.
The Northbridge folder was still there.
He removed it and placed it on the desk.
Several documents concerned a development project that had received county support. The public descriptions referred to infrastructure improvements, commercial property development, and community investment.
But the private records told a different story.
Money had moved through several accounts. Some payments had been recorded as consulting fees. Other transactions had been described as reimbursement for services that could not be verified.
A portion of the funds had been connected to properties purchased through companies with unclear ownership.
Voss had helped keep certain complaints from gaining attention.
He had also used his department to discourage people who asked too many questions.
He closed the folder.
He could no longer pretend that the diner incident was the only problem.
Outside, Rebecca was speaking with Ethan.
AGENT SHAW: "Deputy, I need you to tell me about the department's procedures for handling complaints."
DEPUTY COLE: "Complaints are supposed to be entered into the records system."
AGENT SHAW: "Are they always entered?"
Ethan hesitated.
DEPUTY COLE: "Not always."
AGENT SHAW: "What happens when they are not?"
DEPUTY COLE: "Sometimes they stay in the sheriff's office."
AGENT SHAW: "Who decides that?"
Ethan glanced toward Voss's office.
DEPUTY COLE: "Sheriff Voss."
Rebecca wrote something down.
AGENT SHAW: "Have you personally seen complaints disappear?"
DEPUTY COLE: "I've seen reports that were entered and later couldn't be found."
AGENT SHAW: "Do you know which reports?"
DEPUTY COLE: "I can identify some of them."
AGENT SHAW: "Then preserve any records you have access to. Do not remove anything or make unauthorized copies. We'll follow the proper process."
Ethan nodded.
AGENT SHAW: "Have you ever been instructed to stop someone from filing a complaint?"
He looked down.
DEPUTY COLE: "Yes."
AGENT SHAW: "By whom?"
DEPUTY COLE: "The sheriff."
Rebecca waited.
DEPUTY COLE: "There was a man who reported that officers had taken equipment from his property during a search. He came to the station twice. The second time, the sheriff told us not to accept anything else from him."
AGENT SHAW: "Did you follow that instruction?"
DEPUTY COLE: "I did."
AGENT SHAW: "Why?"
DEPUTY COLE: "I was afraid of losing my job."
Rebecca closed her notebook.
AGENT SHAW: "I understand that pressure can exist inside a department. But your decision now matters. We need accurate information, not speculation."
DEPUTY COLE: "I can give you the names of the people who complained."
AGENT SHAW: "We'll arrange a formal interview."
Ethan looked toward Amara.
She had been listening from a short distance away.
AMARA: "Deputy, the truth does not become less important because it is uncomfortable."
Ethan nodded.
The first step had been taken.
But the investigation was only beginning.
That evening, Rebecca and her team contacted the owner of the Kettle & Comb.
The owner, a man named George Miller, initially seemed reluctant to cooperate. He had operated the diner for more than twenty years and had learned that challenging the sheriff could create problems.
Rebecca explained that the original surveillance recording needed to be preserved.
GEORGE MILLER: "The camera system records over old footage after a few days."
AGENT SHAW: "We need the recording from today's incident preserved before that happens."
GEORGE MILLER: "I can give you a copy."
AGENT SHAW: "We would prefer to document the original system and obtain the recording through the proper process."
George looked toward Martha.
GEORGE MILLER: "She was there the whole time."
MARTHA: "I saw everything."
Rebecca turned to her.
AGENT SHAW: "Martha, did anyone contact you after the sheriff left?"
Martha hesitated.
MARTHA: "Someone called from an unknown number."
AGENT SHAW: "What did they say?"
MARTHA: "They told me to delete the footage."
Rebecca's expression became serious.
AGENT SHAW: "Did they identify themselves?"
MARTHA: "No. They said I didn't want to get involved in something bigger than me."
AGENT SHAW: "Did you delete anything?"
MARTHA: "No. I saved a copy."
Rebecca nodded.
AGENT SHAW: "You did the right thing. Please don't forward it or edit it. We'll document the file and arrange a secure transfer."