Customers watched as Amara walked out between the two officers. Her steps were measured. She did not struggle, and she did not lower her head.
Outside, a black patrol SUV was parked near the entrance.
Voss opened the rear passenger door.
SHERIFF VOSS: "Get in."
Amara looked at the vehicle.
AMARA: "Am I being transported to the county detention facility?"
SHERIFF VOSS: "You're going to the station."
AMARA: "Then I want the destination and the reason for this transport recorded."
Voss gave a bitter laugh.
SHERIFF VOSS: "You really think that title is going to protect you?"
AMARA: "My title is irrelevant. Your conduct is what matters."
For a moment, the sheriff looked as if he might lose control again. Ethan stepped between them, pretending to check the vehicle door.
DEPUTY COLE: "Sheriff, I'll drive."
Voss stared at him.
SHERIFF VOSS: "I didn't ask you to drive."
DEPUTY COLE: "The road is busy. I'll handle the transport."
Voss considered arguing, but finally stepped back.
Amara entered the SUV.
Ethan closed the door carefully.
As he walked around to the driver's side, he glanced toward the diner window. Martha was still watching. Their eyes met for a brief moment.
He knew she understood what was happening.
And he knew that, sooner or later, somebody would ask him to explain why he had allowed it.
Inside the SUV, Amara sat upright with her hands resting in her lap. The smell of food remained on her clothes. Her cheek stung, but she ignored the pain.
She looked through the window as the diner slowly disappeared behind them.
Her phone was still in Voss's possession.
She knew Daniel would continue calling.
She also knew that if he could not reach her, he would eventually contact someone at the courthouse.
The important question was whether the sheriff understood what that meant.
At the courthouse, Daniel Price was becoming increasingly concerned.
Daniel had worked with Judge Whitlock for nearly six years. He knew her schedule, her habits, and the way she handled unexpected delays. Amara was usually meticulous about notifying her chambers when she changed locations.
That afternoon, she had told him she would be stopping for lunch before returning to the courthouse.
She had not mentioned any trouble.
But her phone had stopped responding.
Daniel sat at his desk, looking at the call log on his computer.
He had called her several times.
No answer.
He sent another message.
DANIEL PRICE: "Judge Whitlock, please call me when you receive this. We need to confirm the afternoon conference."
He waited.
Nothing.
He checked the time and looked toward the judge's office. Her assistant had already left a message asking whether the meeting should be delayed.
Daniel stood up and walked to the window.
Something did not feel right.
He returned to his desk and opened the internal contact directory. He considered calling the restaurant where Amara had planned to stop, but he did not have its exact name.
Then he noticed an earlier message she had sent that morning.
It contained the name of the diner.
Kettle & Comb.
Daniel immediately searched for the restaurant's number.
He dialed.
Inside the diner, Martha was clearing the table where Amara had been sitting. She picked up the ringing phone behind the counter.
MARTHA: "Kettle & Comb. How can I help you?"
DANIEL PRICE: "Hello. I'm trying to reach a woman who may have been there a few minutes ago. Her name is Amara Whitlock."
Martha stopped moving.
She looked toward the front door.
MARTHA: "The blonde woman?"
DANIEL PRICE: "Yes. That's her. Is she still there?"
Martha hesitated.
MARTHA: "No. The sheriff took her."
There was a pause on the other end.
DANIEL PRICE: "What do you mean, the sheriff took her?"
MARTHA: "He came in and started shouting at her. He threw her food into her face, then slapped her. After that, he took her phone and made the deputy search her handbag."
Daniel stood completely still.
DANIEL PRICE: "He struck her?"
MARTHA: "Right in front of everybody."
DANIEL PRICE: "Did she identify herself?"
MARTHA: "The deputy found her identification. He looked shocked when he saw it. It said she was a federal judge."
Daniel closed his eyes for a moment.
DANIEL PRICE: "Did you see where they took her?"
MARTHA: "The county station, I think. They put her in a patrol vehicle."
DANIEL PRICE: "Thank you. Please don't touch or erase any camera footage. Don't let anyone remove it."
MARTHA: "The sheriff told us not to talk."