For a moment, he felt almost dizzy with relief.
Then Danielle's expression became serious.
"There's something else."
He looked toward her.
"What?"
"Laura's team has been comparing the towing referrals with financial records obtained through the authorized investigation."
Marcus frowned.
"And?"
Danielle lowered her voice.
"They've identified relationships that may explain why certain vehicles were repeatedly sent to County Line Recovery."
For several seconds, Marcus didn't speak.
Then he looked toward Walter and Linda, who were standing near the exit.
He thought about the bills.
The threats.
And the tire destroyed outside Miller's Hardware.
Then he asked, "How far does this go?"
Danielle took a breath.
"I don't think anyone knows the full answer yet."
And the more the investigators learned, the more they realized that Sergeant Hale wasn't the only person who had benefited from keeping residents frightened and their vehicles trapped behind County Line Recovery's fence.
The next three weeks were difficult for Marcus.
He had expected the hearing to bring relief.
Instead, the public attention made him feel as though every ordinary movement was being watched.
People approached him at the grocery store.
Some thanked him.
Others accused him of trying to embarrass the police department.
A few insisted that he should have simply paid Walter's bill instead of creating controversy.
Marcus listened when people spoke respectfully, but he refused to argue with strangers.
He was tired.
The incident outside Miller's Hardware had left him with a sore back and a feeling of unease whenever a police cruiser passed.
He knew most officers had nothing to do with Hale's conduct.
But knowledge didn't immediately erase the memory of being shoved against his father's truck.
One evening, he was standing in the garage examining the replacement tire when Sophie appeared at the doorway.
She carried the little red toy pickup.
"Daddy?"
Marcus turned.
"Hey, sweetheart."
She looked toward the Silverado.
"Why did that police officer break Grandpa's tire?"
The question caught him off guard.
Renee had explained part of the incident to their daughter after a neighbor's video began circulating online.
They wanted Sophie to hear the facts from her parents rather than from frightened classmates.
But Marcus hadn't expected the question to hurt so much.
He set down his wrench.
Then knelt.