He walked several steps away with Hannah.
Naomi watched them from beside the hood.
She could not hear every word.
But she saw Hannah point toward the damaged door.
She saw Malloy shake his head.
Then she saw Hannah turn toward the patrol cruiser.
The younger trooper pointed toward its windshield.
Malloy's expression changed.
Naomi could guess what she was asking.
Whether the recording system was functioning.
Hannah had known about the camera replacement.
The department had recently upgraded much of its fleet after a statewide audit found inconsistent video retention practices.
The new equipment automatically preserved footage associated with emergency-light activation.
Officers could tag events and add explanatory notes, but they could not simply erase the original recording from the dashboard computer.
The system was imperfect.
Like any technology, it depended on proper operation, secure storage, and later review.
But it was substantially harder to manipulate than the equipment it replaced.
Hannah looked toward Malloy.
"Is your dashcam on?"
He frowned.
"Of course."
"Then let's preserve the recording."
Malloy stared at her.
"For what?"
"Because she's alleging you damaged her vehicle and destroyed her license."
He lowered his voice.
"You're taking her side?"
"I'm trying to make sure we document the stop."
"She's been giving me attitude since I walked up."
Hannah kept her voice calm.
"That doesn't explain the dent."
Malloy looked toward Naomi.
Then back at Hannah.
"She's a Navy commander."
Hannah blinked.
"What?"
"That's what she says."
"Did you verify it?"
"She showed me military identification."
Hannah considered the information.
Then asked, "Does that change why you stopped her?"
Malloy's expression tightened.
"Are you trying to make a point?"
"No."
She glanced toward the sedan.
"I'm trying to understand what happened."
Malloy stepped closer.
"You know, some of you younger troopers act like every driver with a complaint must be telling the truth."
Hannah met his eyes.
"And sometimes senior officers act like every complaint is an attack on their authority."
The words escaped before she could soften them.
Malloy stared.
For a moment, Hannah regretted speaking so directly.
Then she looked toward Naomi.
A woman with a valid license stood beside a damaged car while an officer tried to arrange an unnecessary tow.
Hannah took a slow breath.
"I want a supervisor here."
Malloy laughed sharply.
"She already tried that."