The waitress stiffened.
MARTHA: "Yes, Sheriff?"
DALTON VOSS: "Come here."
She approached slowly.
DALTON VOSS: "What's on that camera?"
Martha looked at the surveillance monitor.
MARTHA: "The restaurant footage."
DALTON VOSS: "I asked what it recorded."
MARTHA: "It records the dining area."
DALTON VOSS: "Good. Keep it that way."
Martha did not answer.
Dalton stepped closer.
DALTON VOSS: "Nobody needs to make a big production out of this."
MARTHA: "I don't understand."
DALTON VOSS: "You understand perfectly."
Amara watched the exchange.
AMARA: "Sheriff, leave the staff alone."
Dalton turned around.
DALTON VOSS: "I wasn't talking to you."
AMARA: "You're speaking to a witness."
DALTON VOSS: "She's my witness to question."
AMARA: "She's an employee of this establishment. You have no reason to intimidate her."
Dalton's face darkened.
DALTON VOSS: "You should worry about yourself."
Amara remained silent.
Ryan looked increasingly uncomfortable.
He had begun to realize that the situation was much worse than he initially thought.
The sheriff had now attempted to justify the arrest with an unverified accusation, and he was clearly concerned about the restaurant's surveillance footage.
Ryan glanced toward the camera.
Then he looked at Amara's identification again.
RYAN COLE: "Sheriff, I really think we should contact someone."
DALTON VOSS: "I already told you to stay out of it."
RYAN COLE: "But if she's actually a federal judge—"
DALTON VOSS: "If?"
Ryan stopped.
DALTON VOSS: "You think anyone can walk around with a badge and expect us to believe it?"
AMARA: "Then verify it."
DALTON VOSS: "I will."
Amara nodded slightly.
AMARA: "Please do."
Dalton pulled out his own phone.
He walked a few steps away from the table, keeping the wallet in his hand.
He opened the identification again and began examining the printed details.
For the first time, his movements were hurried rather than confident.
Ryan remained beside Amara.
He did not know what to say.
After a brief silence, he spoke quietly.
RYAN COLE: "Ma'am, I'm sorry about what happened."
Dalton immediately looked over his shoulder.
DALTON VOSS: "Ryan!"
The deputy straightened.
RYAN COLE: "Yes, Sheriff?"
DALTON VOSS: "Come here."
Ryan walked toward him.
Dalton lowered his voice.
DALTON VOSS: "What exactly are you doing?"
RYAN COLE: "I'm trying to keep this situation from getting worse."
DALTON VOSS: "You work for this department. Remember that."
RYAN COLE: "I know."
DALTON VOSS: "Then act like it."
Ryan glanced toward Amara.
She was still standing beside the booth, watching them.
Dalton turned away again and began making a call.
The first number he dialed did not answer.
He tried another.
This time, the call connected.
DALTON VOSS: "This is Sheriff Dalton Voss from Randolph County. I need to verify a federal judicial credential."
He paused.
DALTON VOSS: "The name is Amara Whitlock."
There was a longer silence.
Dalton listened.
His expression changed slightly.
DALTON VOSS: "Yes. That's correct."
Another pause.
He looked toward the woman standing near the table.
DALTON VOSS: "I understand."
He ended the call without saying goodbye.
Ryan approached him.
RYAN COLE: "What did they say?"
Dalton did not answer immediately.
He stared at the phone in his hand.
RYAN COLE: "Sheriff?"
DALTON VOSS: "They need additional information."
RYAN COLE: "Did they confirm her identity?"
DALTON VOSS: "Not yet."
Amara heard the conversation.
She calmly reached toward her handbag.
DALTON VOSS: "I told you not to touch that."
AMARA: "I'm reaching for my phone."
DALTON VOSS: "Leave it."
AMARA: "You have already taken enough of my personal property."
Dalton stepped toward her.
DALTON VOSS: "You are still being detained."
AMARA: "Then I suggest you make sure that detention is lawful."
She slowly withdrew her phone from the handbag.
Dalton watched every movement.
Amara unlocked the screen.
Several notifications appeared.
One was from an official contact.
Another was a missed call.
A third notification appeared while she was looking at the screen.
She glanced at it briefly, then returned her attention to Dalton.
The sheriff noticed the notifications.
DALTON VOSS: "Who are you talking to?"
AMARA: "Nobody you need to worry about."
DALTON VOSS: "Hand me the phone."
AMARA: "No."
Dalton took a step forward.
DALTON VOSS: "I said hand it over."
AMARA: "You have not explained why you believe you have the authority to take it."
Ryan watched the exchange.
He knew that the sheriff was losing control.