“Burner phone?”
“No.”
“You CIA?”
Sarah did not answer.
Boyd smiled.
“Secret agent?”
“No.”
“Then relax.”
He tossed the device into a clear evidence tray.
It landed with a hard plastic crack.
Sarah’s eyes followed it.
“Sheriff Cleary.”
“What?”
“Do not tamper with that device.”
He leaned across the counter.
“Lady, you are in my jail.”
Sarah looked at him.
“Yes.”
“So stop giving orders.”
Toby said quietly:
“She said it’s government property.”
Boyd looked at him.
“And?”
“Might be better to bag it separately.”
Boyd picked it up again.
Sarah’s voice sharpened.
“Put it down.”
Everyone in the room stopped.
It was the first time her command tone had surfaced.
Not loud.
Not emotional.
But something in the delivery carried years of institutional authority.
Boyd stared.
Then smiled slowly.
“There she is.”
Sarah remained motionless.
He held the device in one hand.
“You want this?”
“No.”
“Sure looks like it.”
“I want you to preserve government property exactly as recovered.”
Boyd stepped around the counter.
“Maybe you forgot where you are.”
Sarah turned toward him.
“I know exactly where I am.”
He came closer.
“Do you?”
“Yes.”
“What are you going to do about it?”
“Nothing.”
That answer confused him.
Sarah continued.
“You are making your own record.”
He laughed.
Then, suddenly, slapped her across the side of the face.
The booking room froze.
It was not a wild punch.
Not enough to knock her down.
A sharp open-handed slap intended to humiliate.
Sarah’s head turned with the impact.
For one second, nobody moved.
Toby stared.
The booking deputy stood.
“Sheriff!”
Boyd pointed at Sarah.
“Stop mouthing off.”
Sarah slowly turned her face back toward him.
Her cheek burned.
Her eyes did not.
“Did your camera capture that?”
Boyd looked at his chest.
The camera was active.
His expression flickered.
Then hardened.
“You stepped toward me.”
“No.”
“You were aggressive.”
“No.”
He shoved her backward.
Sarah struck the edge of a metal chair.
She caught herself.
Toby moved forward.
“Enough.”
Boyd spun.
“What did you say?”
“I said enough.”
The room became very quiet.
Boyd took two steps toward Toby.
The younger deputy did not move.
Sarah watched.
This was no longer simply about her.
Boyd’s authority depended on everyone else accepting his version of events.
Toby was beginning to refuse.
Boyd pointed toward the rear corridor.
“Go inventory her car.”