Sheriff Thomas Granger arrived twenty-three minutes after Cole's initial call.
His black county SUV turned onto the shoulder and stopped behind the patrol cruisers.
Granger was in his late fifties, broad-shouldered, with short gray hair and a neatly trimmed mustache. His uniform was always immaculate.
He had built his public image around being a practical sheriff who believed in maintaining order.
He was also a man who disliked surprises.
Especially surprises involving Internal Affairs.
Granger stepped out of his SUV and immediately looked toward Cole.
"What happened?"
Cole approached.
"Traffic stop turned into an arrest."
"Why?"
"Uncooperative driver. Obstruction."
Granger glanced toward the silver sedan.
"What was the original violation?"
Cole hesitated.
"Suspicious behavior."
Granger frowned.
"That's not a traffic violation."
"She was driving strangely."
"Then what was the radar reading?"
"Forty-two."
Granger looked at the roadside sign.
Forty-five.
He stared at Cole.
"Are you telling me you arrested someone who was driving below the posted speed limit?"
Cole lowered his voice.
"She refused to cooperate."
Granger exhaled.
"Richard, I don't have time for this."
"There's more."
"What?"
"She called State Police Internal Affairs."
The sheriff's expression changed.
"How do you know?"
"I saw the phone."
"Did you identify her?"
"Not yet."
"Then why did you arrest her?"
Cole's jaw tightened.
"She was interfering."
Granger looked toward the cruiser.
The woman sat upright in the back seat.
Even from a distance, her posture appeared controlled.
He approached the vehicle.
Cole followed.
Granger opened the rear door.
"Ma'am."
She looked at him.
"Good afternoon, Sheriff."
He paused.
"How do you know I'm the sheriff?"
"Your uniform identifies your position."
Granger studied her.
"Do you know why you're being detained?"
"I have been told that I'm under arrest for obstruction and failure to comply."
"And did you refuse to comply with a lawful instruction?"
"I provided my identification and answered the deputy's questions."
Granger looked toward Cole.
"Is that true?"
Cole shifted his weight.
"She was argumentative."
The woman spoke again.
"May I ask the sheriff a question?"
Granger nodded.
"Go ahead."
"Has the department documented a traffic violation?"
Granger did not answer immediately.
"That's being reviewed."
"Has my vehicle been checked for outstanding issues?"
"Yes."
"And was anything found?"
Granger looked toward Cole.
The deputy remained silent.
The woman continued.
"Was the radar reading forty-two miles per hour?"
Granger's expression hardened.
"That's what the device displayed."
"Thank you."
He looked at her.
"Why did you contact Internal Affairs?"
"Because I believe the conduct of the stop warrants independent review."
Granger lowered his voice.
"Ma'am, you need to understand that we take allegations against officers seriously."
"Then I'm sure you will have no difficulty preserving the evidence."
He nodded slowly.
"What is your name?"
She gave it to him.
"Danielle Brooks."
Granger repeated the name quietly.
It did not immediately mean anything to him.
He looked at her clothing.
Olive-green jacket.
Simple trousers.
No expensive jewelry.
No visible identification badge.
Nothing about her appearance suggested the kind of authority that made senior law-enforcement officials nervous.
But her confidence was difficult to ignore.
"Do you work in law enforcement?" he asked.
Danielle looked at him.
"I work in public service."
"That's not an answer."
"It's the answer I'm prepared to provide at this moment."
Cole laughed from behind the sheriff.
"See? That's what I've been dealing with."
Granger raised one hand.
"Richard, enough."
He turned back toward Danielle.
"Here's what we're going to do. We'll take you to the station, verify your information, and sort this out."
Danielle's expression remained unchanged.
"Am I being released?"
"Not yet."
"On what documented grounds?"
Granger's patience began to wear thin.
"Ma'am, I am trying to resolve this situation."
"Then please explain why I am being held."
He stared at her.
The sheriff was accustomed to people becoming quieter when he approached.
Danielle did the opposite.
She remained polite, but she did not surrender the question.
Granger stepped away from the cruiser.
He pulled Cole aside.
"Get me her full information."
"I've already checked her license."
"Then check again. Find out who she is."
Cole nodded.
Granger lowered his voice further.
"And don't put anything else in writing until we know what we're dealing with."
Price, standing near the second cruiser, heard the instruction.
He looked down at his computer.
His preliminary report was already saved.
A few minutes later, Granger returned to his SUV.
His phone rang.
He answered.
"Granger."
A male voice spoke from the other end.
"Thomas, this is Lieutenant Harris with State Police."
Granger straightened.
"What can I do for you?"
"We've received notification about an incident involving one of your deputies on Highway Forty-Five."
Granger glanced toward Danielle.
"What incident?"
"The detention of Danielle Brooks."
The sheriff's expression changed.
"Who?"
"Danielle Brooks. I need to know whether she's currently in your custody."
Granger did not respond immediately.
"Why?"
The lieutenant's voice became colder.
"Because I would strongly recommend that you verify her credentials before making another decision."
Granger slowly looked back toward the woman.
For the first time, he wondered whether the traffic stop was about to become the biggest problem of his career.