The patrol vehicle's passenger window was broken. Glass covered the ground. A black smartphone lay partially concealed beneath the rear axle. The two county officers had arrived together, but their behavior suggested they had not been acting under the same instructions.
One was frightened.
The other was calculating.
Vanessa had encountered both types before.
The frightened officer could still be useful.
The calculating one was dangerous.
She turned toward Ethan.
"How long have you been recording?"
"Since before they started walking you toward the vehicle."
"Did you capture the original approach?"
"Yes."
"Did you record the radio transmission?"
Ethan nodded.
"Everything."
"Do not edit it. Do not upload it. Do not send it to anyone who contacts you claiming to represent the FBI."
"Okay."
"Keep the original file exactly as it is."
Ethan looked at her.
"Agent, why would someone want me dead?"
Vanessa did not answer immediately.
She looked at the phone beneath the patrol car.
"Because you may have recorded something they thought nobody would ever see."
A low engine noise approached from the highway.
Riley turned.
"Is that the supervisor?"
Vanessa looked toward the road.
A black SUV appeared over the slight rise, traveling much faster than the posted speed limit.
It slowed abruptly and stopped behind the patrol vehicle.
The driver's door opened.
A tall man in a dark county uniform stepped out.
He was in his late forties, with a square jaw and closely cropped hair. A silver lieutenant's insignia was attached to his collar.
Lieutenant David Harris.
He looked at the broken window first.
Then at Riley.
Then at Vanessa.
His expression changed.
"Special Agent Carter."
Vanessa did not move.
"Lieutenant Harris."
He approached slowly.
"I heard there was an incident."
"That's one way to describe it."
Harris glanced at the handcuffs hanging from Riley's belt.
"Why is the agent out of custody?"
Riley looked uncomfortable.
"Sir, we identified her credentials."
Harris frowned.
"You identified them?"
"Yes, sir."
"And?"
Riley hesitated.
"She's FBI."
Harris looked at Vanessa again.
"Of course she is."
The answer came too quickly.
Vanessa noticed.
"You seem unsurprised."
Harris gave a small smile.
"I know who you are, Agent Carter."
"Then you also know that I requested a supervisor."
"I'm here."
"You're late."
"Traffic."
Vanessa glanced at his vehicle.
"How long did it take you to reach this location?"
"About fifteen minutes."
"From the station?"
"Yes."
She nodded.
"Interesting."
Harris frowned.
"What is?"
"Your patrol headquarters is twenty-two minutes away in normal traffic. You arrived in fifteen, despite the road construction on County Route Six."
Harris looked at her.
"Are you timing me now?"
"No. I'm listening to your explanations."
He stepped closer.
"Agent Carter, perhaps we should discuss this privately."
"No."
His expression tightened.
"This is a county matter."
"It became a federal matter when someone used a county radio to order the elimination of a witness."
Harris looked toward the patrol vehicle.
"That transmission may have been interference."
"Then you won't mind having the radio examined."
"Certainly."
"Good."
Vanessa gestured toward the vehicle.
"Please leave it untouched."
Harris glanced at the black phone beneath the rear axle.
For a split second, his expression changed.
Then he looked away.
Vanessa caught it.
"Lieutenant."
"What?"
"Do you recognize that device?"
Harris did not answer.
She repeated the question.
"Do you recognize the phone beneath the patrol car?"
He looked down.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
Vanessa turned toward Riley.
"Officer Riley, did you see the phone before I pointed it out?"
Riley shook his head.
"No, ma'am."
"Officer Miller?"
Miller looked at the ground.
"No."
Vanessa faced Harris.
"Then why did you look directly at it when you arrived?"
Harris laughed.
"Because you were pointing in that direction."
"I wasn't pointing."
The lieutenant's smile disappeared.
A long silence followed.
Then he turned toward Ethan.
"Who's that?"
"He's a civilian witness," Vanessa answered.
Harris approached him.
"Sir, I need you to provide your identification."
Ethan hesitated.
"Why?"
"Because this is an active law enforcement scene."
Vanessa stepped between them.
"He has not been accused of any offense."
"I'm simply asking a question."
"And I'm telling you that he is under federal witness protection consideration."
Ethan looked at her.
"What?"
Vanessa did not turn around.
"Keep quiet for a moment."
Harris's expression changed.
"Federal witness protection?"
"Yes."
"That's interesting."
"Why?"
"Because nobody informed our department."
Vanessa looked directly at him.
"That was intentional."
Harris stared at her.
For the first time, he appeared genuinely uncertain.
Then he smiled again.
"Agent Carter, I think you're making a mistake."
"Possibly."
"You don't know these officers."
"I know what they did."
"You don't know what happened before you arrived."
"Then explain it."
Harris looked toward Riley.
"Officer Riley, tell her what you told dispatch."
Riley hesitated.
"Sir?"
"Tell her."
Riley looked at Vanessa.
Then at Miller.
Finally, he spoke.
"We received a call about a damaged patrol vehicle and an aggressive individual."
"Who reported it?" Vanessa asked.
"Dispatch."
"Who called dispatch?"
"I don't know."
"Did you hear the call?"
"No."
"Did you receive a written incident report?"
Riley hesitated.
"No."
Vanessa turned toward Harris.
"So your officers responded to an anonymous report they never heard, involving a vehicle they had not inspected, and arrested a woman without verifying her identity."
Harris folded his arms.
"That's not an accurate summary."
"Then give me an accurate one."
He said nothing.
Vanessa nodded.
"That's what I thought."
She turned toward Ethan.
"Mr. Cole, did you see anyone near the patrol vehicle before the officers arrived?"
Ethan thought for a moment.
"Yes."
"Who?"