Reed looked almost offended.
“No.”
Ryker stopped.
Reed continued:
“You can explain to investigators.”
Sarah looked at Reed.
“My rank is not the issue.”
“I know.”
“Say that again.”
He understood.
Reed turned back to Ryker.
“You did not become wrong when you learned she was a major general.”
The room quieted.
“You were either lawful before you knew who she was or you were not.”
Ryker stared.
Reed continued:
“Her stars do not repair your probable cause.”
“Her security clearance does not create her constitutional rights.”
Sarah gave him the smallest approving nod.
Ryker looked toward the floor.
Federal technicians carried the military case past him.
A tracker inside blinked.
That frightened him more than Reed.
Sarah noticed.
She leaned toward Ortiz.
“He knows who is tracking that case.”
Ortiz nodded.
“We'll find out.”
They did not have to wait long.
At 5:37, Jared Miller approached Sarah while federal agents copied the department servers.
“General?”
“Yes?”
“Can we talk privately?”
She studied him.
“About?”
“Ryker Recovery.”
Ortiz joined them.
Jared looked around.
“I've been keeping records.”
Ryker overheard from twenty feet away.
His head snapped toward them.
Jared saw.
That confirmed Sarah should listen.
They entered an interview room.
Jared locked the door.
Then removed his personal phone.
“There are pictures on here.”
“What kind?”
“Impound sheets.”
“Property logs.”
“Cash seizures.”
“Vehicles that disappeared.”
Sarah remained silent.
Jared continued.
“I started six months ago.”
“Why?”
“I saw a man brought in after a traffic stop.”
“Black contractor.”
“About sixty.”
Sarah’s eyes sharpened.
“Harold Owens?”
Jared looked shocked.
“You know him?”
“We interviewed him.”
“He said Ryker took payroll money.”
“He was right.”
Jared sat.
“I counted it when they brought him in.”
“Eight thousand two hundred.”
“The evidence sheet later said five thousand one hundred.”
“Who changed it?”
“Ryker.”
“Did you see him?”
“Yes.”
“And you stayed quiet.”
Jared looked down.
“Yes.”
Sarah did not rescue him from the shame.
He needed to sit in it long enough to understand it.
Finally she asked:
“What changed?”
Jared looked toward the door.
“I found military cargo in the tow yard.”
Sarah leaned forward.
“Show me.”
Photograph.
A white box truck.
Government transport markings.
Taken four nights earlier.
Another photograph showed the rear door open.
A black case inside.
Possibly the one now in evidence.
“Who brought it?”