On the morning of May 14, Marcus woke before six.
He made breakfast for Sophie.
Checked the Silverado's oil and tires.
Then placed his presentation binder inside a backpack.
The hearing was scheduled for 1:30 that afternoon.
He planned to meet Danielle downtown beforehand.
At eleven, Evelyn called.
She needed help reviewing one of the video timestamps and had a small package of electrical connectors Marcus ordered for the volunteer garage.
He agreed to stop by Miller's Hardware on the way.
At 12:18, he parked the Silverado outside the redbrick storefront.
The sun was bright.
The sidewalks were busy.
And the OPEN signs glowed behind the windows.
He stepped inside, greeted Evelyn, and collected the package.
They spent several minutes discussing the hearing.
Evelyn seemed more nervous than usual.
Marcus noticed.
"Everything okay?"
She nodded.
"Yes."
Then she glanced toward the office.
"I have somebody here reviewing the recordings."
Marcus raised an eyebrow.
"Who?"
Evelyn lowered her voice.
"Someone who wants to make sure the original files are properly documented."
Marcus understood enough not to ask for details.
He smiled.
"Good."
Then he looked at his watch.
"I'd better go."
Evelyn touched his arm.
"Marcus?"
He turned.
She looked concerned.
"Be careful."
He nodded.
"I will."
He had no idea that Sergeant Hale was already watching the Silverado from a patrol car parked down the street.
And he didn't know that Laura Sutton was sitting in Evelyn's back office examining a live camera feed when the sergeant stepped out of his cruiser.
Hale had decided to stop the hearing presentation before Marcus reached the council chamber.
He hadn't planned the confrontation carefully.
That was part of what made him dangerous.
He was angry, frightened, and increasingly convinced that the people questioning his towing decisions were trying to destroy his career.
He knew Marcus carried records.
He knew the hearing began at 1:30.
And he believed that a disabled truck would create enough delay to keep the veteran from speaking.
It was a desperate calculation.
He told himself he would damage the tire, leave before anyone noticed, and later suggest that Marcus had been driving an unsafe vehicle.
If County Line Recovery became involved, that would be even better.