Multiple.
The coffee in Marlene's mug trembled slightly on the desk.
Riggs looked toward the front.
Ford frowned.
Another engine.
Then another.
Tires entered the parking lot.
Marlene moved toward the window.
Her face changed.
“Sheriff.”
Ford turned.
Four black SUVs were entering the lot in formation.
Not limousines.
Government vehicles.
Heavy.
Tinted.
Clean.
Two stopped facing the entrance.
Two angled outward.
Doors opened.
Men and women in plain dark suits exited first.
Then uniformed military police.
No weapons raised.
No shouting.
Precision.
Arthur closed his eyes.
Fort Bradley had received the alert.
Or someone attached to the defense program had.
Either way, timing had run out.
Ford looked from the SUVs to Arthur.
“What did you do?”
Arthur opened his eyes.
“Nothing.”
Ford stepped closer to the bars.
“What did you call in?”
“I didn't.”
“Then why are they here?”
Arthur looked toward the smoking trash can.
“You told them.”
Ford turned.
The front doors opened.
A Black man entered first.
Forties.
Dark suit.
Close-cropped hair.
Federal credentials already in hand.
Behind him came a white woman in Army service uniform with lieutenant colonel insignia.
Then two military police officers.
Riggs instinctively stepped aside.
Ford did not.
The suited man stopped.
“Sheriff Clayton Ford?”
Ford lifted his chin.
“This is my station.”
The man nodded.
“I'm aware.”
He produced identification.
“Special Agent Marcus Hale.”
“Department of Defense Criminal Investigative Service.”
Ford's face changed.
Only slightly.
The Army officer stepped beside him.
“Lieutenant Colonel Renee Walker.”
“Fort Bradley Security Operations.”
Ford looked at her.
Then Hale.
Then Arthur.
Hale continued:
“We received an emergency loss-of-control notification attached to federal transit documents assigned to Arthur Pendleton.”
Ford pointed toward Arthur.
“He's under arrest.”
Hale looked toward the holding cell.
Arthur stood calmly behind bars.
Hale returned his gaze to Ford.
“On what charge?”
“Obstruction.”
“Of?”
Ford hesitated.
“Investigation.”
“What underlying offense?”
“Traffic.”
Hale waited.
Ford added:
“Possible narcotics.”
Hale looked around.
“Were narcotics recovered?”
Ford's face tightened.
“No.”
“Was a field test performed?”
“No.”
“Was a K9 deployed?”
“No.”
“Search warrant?”
“I had probable cause.”
“Based on?”
Ford stared.
“Odor.”
Hale looked toward Riggs.
“Deputy?”
Riggs went still.
Ford snapped:
“Don't answer him.”
Hale looked back at Ford.
“Sheriff, I strongly recommend you stop giving your employees instructions about what they may tell federal investigators.”
Ford's jaw tightened.
“This is county jurisdiction.”
Hale nodded.
“For your traffic investigation.”