He remembered the argument.
The unsigned certification.
And the original field inspection book that had disappeared during a department reorganization.
He had spent years believing the matter was buried.
Now the inspector's daughter was asking questions.
She had money.
Legal representation.
An experienced engineering team.
And enough professional credibility to make state officials listen.
The president leaned closer to the sheriff.
"We need to know what she has."
The sheriff looked irritated.
"She can't just come down here accusing everybody of corruption."
"She hasn't accused everybody."
"Not yet."
The president studied him.
Then said quietly, "You remember what happened with her father?"
The sheriff hesitated.
He had been a deputy captain at the time.
He knew that the original dispute had caused tension.
But he claimed he'd never understood all the technical details.
The businessman continued.
"That situation nearly destroyed several people's careers."
The sheriff looked toward him.
"What are you saying?"
"I'm saying we should avoid another public spectacle."
The sheriff nodded slowly.
The president leaned back.
"Find out what she has."
The sheriff didn't answer.
But the request remained with him.
And two days later, he called the senior deputy into his office.
The bald fifty-eight-year-old officer had been working for him for years.
He knew the county roads.
Knew the old families.
And knew how to handle encounters without attracting attention.
At least, that was how the sheriff thought of him.
The deputy entered the office.
"Morning, Sheriff."
The sheriff gestured toward a chair.
"Sit down."
The deputy obeyed.
They discussed several routine matters.
A traffic complaint.
A property dispute.
A staffing issue.
Then the sheriff placed a photograph on the desk.
It showed a beautiful Black woman standing beside a black Rolls-Royce at a recent event.
The deputy studied it.
"Who's that?"
The sheriff answered.
"An engineer from Atlanta."
The deputy raised an eyebrow.
"With a Rolls-Royce?"
The sheriff ignored the comment.
"She's been digging into old county records."
The deputy frowned.
"What kind?"
"Bridge contracts."
The older officer leaned back.
The sheriff continued.
"She's got family history here. Her father used to work for the road department."
The deputy remembered.
Not the details.
But the scandal.
The employee accused of mishandling inspection documents.
The dismissal.
The rumors.
He looked toward the photograph.
"That's his daughter?"
The sheriff nodded.
"She's become very successful."
The deputy gave a humorless laugh.
"Looks like it."
The sheriff studied him.
"I want to know what she's doing when she comes through the county."
The deputy frowned.
"Surveillance?"
The sheriff shook his head.
"Nothing formal. Just keep your eyes open."