For a moment, her expression became distant.
Then she said, "It wasn't easy."
The captain studied her.
He'd worked with investigators for decades.
He recognized the effort required to remain composed while facing someone who had personally harmed you.
Cross stepped forward.
"Sheriff, I want you to know that I ordered the Bentley released from the proposed tow."
Camille nodded.
"I appreciate that."
He hesitated.
Then added.
"I should have been called earlier."
She looked toward him.
"That's one of the things the review should examine."
Cross nodded.
For several seconds, the room was quiet.
Then Camille asked Rowan about the Ridgeway Recovery records.
The captain's expression changed.
"We've started gathering the contract files."
"Any problems?"
He hesitated.
"Several."
Camille leaned forward.
"What kind?"
Rowan opened another folder.
"Tow requests without complete supporting documentation. Storage fees that don't reconcile. Vehicles held longer than the available authorization appears to support."
Camille felt a chill.
For a moment, she thought about the tow truck arriving at Evelyn's house.
Then she asked.
"Is Sergeant Voss involved in those records?"
Rowan looked toward her.
He didn't answer immediately.
Then he said.
"His name appears often."
Camille returned home shortly after two in the morning.
Her parents were still awake.
Samuel sat in the living room watching television with the sound turned low.
Denise was reading at the kitchen table.
When Camille entered, her mother stood immediately.
"How did it go?"
Camille placed her yellow handbag on the counter.
For a moment, she considered giving a simple answer.
Then she looked toward her parents.
"It was complicated."
Samuel smiled faintly.
"Most important things are."
She laughed softly.
Her mother examined her face.
"Did you see the deputy?"
Camille nodded.
"Yes."
Denise waited.
"He knows who I am now."
Samuel looked toward her.
For a moment, his expression became serious.
"And?"
Camille took a slow breath.
"And he finally understood that being wrong isn't always something you can shout your way out of."
Her father nodded.
Then asked whether she felt better.
Camille looked toward the dark window.
For several seconds, she was silent.
Finally, she answered.
"Not yet."
Denise approached and embraced her.
Camille closed her eyes.
The night had changed her professional life.
But it hadn't erased the afternoon.
She still remembered the sound of breaking glass.
The shove.
And the look on Voss's face when he decided her registration wasn't worth checking.
Her mother held her gently.
"You don't have to feel better tonight."
Camille nodded.
For the first time, she allowed herself to accept that.
Tomorrow, she would begin the difficult work of leading the sheriff's office.
Tonight, she was still a daughter who needed rest.
The next morning, Camille arrived at headquarters before sunrise.