The sergeant hadn't intended merely to stop him from driving.
He'd already arranged for the next part of the encounter.
Marcus's first concern was the hearing.
He checked his watch.
1:16.
Fourteen minutes until the scheduled start.
The Silverado couldn't be driven safely.
His presentation binder was inside the cab.
And his lawyer was already waiting near town hall.
He called Danielle.
She answered immediately.
"Marcus, where are you?"
He took a breath.
"Outside Miller's. Hale damaged my tire."
There was silence.
Then she asked whether he was safe.
"Yes. A state investigator witnessed it. A supervisor is here."
Danielle exhaled.
"Good. Stay with the investigators."
He looked toward town hall, several blocks away.
"The hearing starts in fourteen minutes."
She hesitated.
"Can you get there?"
Marcus considered the situation.
He didn't want to leave before his account and the vehicle evidence were properly documented.
But he also didn't want Hale's actions to accomplish their apparent purpose.
Laura approached as he finished speaking.
Marcus explained.
She listened carefully.
Then said the investigators could arrange to document the vehicle while he attended the hearing, provided the necessary immediate procedures were completed.
He looked toward Evelyn.
The store owner stood nearby holding her car keys.
"I'll take you," she said.
Marcus stared.
"Evelyn, you don't have to."
She smiled firmly.
"Your father kept my husband's delivery truck running for twenty years. I can manage a five-minute drive."
For a moment, Marcus couldn't speak.
Then he nodded.
"Thank you."
He retrieved his binder after the relevant items had been documented.
The lieutenant confirmed the immediate arrangements.
And at 1:22, Marcus climbed into Evelyn's car.
As they pulled away, he looked back.
His black Silverado remained beside the curb.
One tire collapsed.
The front wheel resting heavily against the pavement.
Hale stood near a patrol vehicle with another officer.
For the first time, Marcus saw the sergeant looking genuinely frightened.
He turned toward Evelyn.
"Do you think this will matter?"
She kept her eyes on the road.
Then answered.
"It already does."
The council hearing was underway when Marcus entered the chamber.
Danielle stood near the front holding a folder.
Walter Bennett sat beside Linda Harper.
Several residents occupied the first rows.