DANIEL MERCER: "The one your department has been repeatedly asked to cooperate with."
DALTON VOSS: "I don't know what you're talking about."
Daniel placed his identification back inside his wallet.
DANIEL MERCER: "That is becoming a familiar response."
Amara remained beside the booth.
She looked at Daniel.
AMARA WHITLOCK: "The restaurant has surveillance cameras. The incident should have been recorded."
Daniel glanced toward the counter.
DANIEL MERCER: "Martha, is that correct?"
Martha stepped forward cautiously.
MARTHA: "Yes. There are cameras covering the dining area."
DANIEL MERCER: "Does the system retain the footage?"
MARTHA: "Yes. It records continuously."
DANIEL MERCER: "Has anyone asked you to delete or modify anything?"
Martha looked toward Dalton.
For a moment, she hesitated.
Then she shook her head.
MARTHA: "Not yet."
Daniel nodded.
DANIEL MERCER: "Please preserve the original recording. Do not edit it, overwrite it, or allow anyone to access it without proper authorization."
Martha nodded immediately.
MARTHA: "I will."
Dalton stepped forward.
DALTON VOSS: "You cannot just walk in here and start giving orders."
Daniel turned toward him.
DANIEL MERCER: "I'm not asking the restaurant to do anything unlawful. I'm asking that potentially relevant evidence be preserved."
DALTON VOSS: "This is my jurisdiction."
DANIEL MERCER: "That does not place your department above federal law."
The sheriff's face tightened.
He looked toward Ryan.
DALTON VOSS: "Deputy, tell him what happened."
Ryan swallowed.
He glanced at Amara.
Then he looked at Daniel.
RYAN COLE: "I saw the sheriff take her drink and throw it into her face."
Dalton turned sharply.
DALTON VOSS: "Ryan!"
RYAN COLE: "I also saw him strike her."
The diner became completely silent.
DALTON VOSS: "You want to be careful about what you're saying."
RYAN COLE: "I'm telling him what I saw."
Daniel watched the deputy closely.
DANIEL MERCER: "Did Ms. Whitlock physically threaten the sheriff?"
RYAN COLE: "No."
DANIEL MERCER: "Did she attack him?"
RYAN COLE: "No."
DANIEL MERCER: "Did she attempt to flee?"
RYAN COLE: "No."
DANIEL MERCER: "Did you personally witness any criminal activity by her before the sheriff approached the table?"
Ryan looked down briefly.
RYAN COLE: "No, sir."
Dalton's expression became furious.
DALTON VOSS: "That's enough."
Amara finally spoke.
AMARA WHITLOCK: "Let him finish."
Daniel raised one hand slightly, signaling that he wanted the deputy to continue without interruption.
DANIEL MERCER: "Did you receive any specific information identifying Judge Whitlock as a suspect in an armed theft?"
RYAN COLE: "No. I never saw a report."
DANIEL MERCER: "Did the sheriff show you one?"
RYAN COLE: "No."
Daniel closed his notebook.
DANIEL MERCER: "Thank you, Deputy."
Dalton looked as though he could barely contain his anger.
He had expected Ryan to support him.
Instead, the young deputy had confirmed several details that made his position considerably worse.
DALTON VOSS: "This is ridiculous. She could be carrying a fraudulent identification."
Daniel looked toward the wallet on the table.
DANIEL MERCER: "Her credentials can be independently verified."
DALTON VOSS: "Then verify them."
DANIEL MERCER: "That process is already underway."
Daniel took out his phone and made a short call.
He gave the relevant identification details to the person on the other end.
After a brief exchange, he ended the call.
DANIEL MERCER: "The credentials have been confirmed."
Dalton did not respond.
DANIEL MERCER: "Amara Whitlock is a duly appointed United States federal judge."
The statement was clear.
There was no room for interpretation.
Martha slowly covered her mouth.
The older customer near the window leaned back in disbelief.
Ryan looked at Amara again.
He had suspected that the identification was genuine, but hearing it officially confirmed made the entire incident feel even more serious.
Dalton stared at Daniel.
DALTON VOSS: "You expect me to believe she's a federal judge?"
DANIEL MERCER: "You have just been given confirmation."
DALTON VOSS: "Why would a federal judge be sitting in a roadside diner in Randolph County?"
Amara answered calmly.
AMARA WHITLOCK: "Because judges are allowed to have lunch wherever they choose."
Nobody spoke.
Daniel looked briefly toward Amara.
A faint expression of agreement crossed his face.
DANIEL MERCER: "And her presence here does not give anyone permission to assault her."
Dalton looked away.
He had no convincing answer.
Daniel turned toward the sheriff again.
DANIEL MERCER: "I need to know exactly what happened from the moment you approached this table."
DALTON VOSS: "I've already explained."