The assignment had been observation.
Not bait.
Certainly not arrest.
But she understood why her supervisor had chosen her for the preliminary field review.
Ava noticed details.
And she could sit inside uncomfortable silence longer than most people.
Both skills were becoming useful.
Mercer released her arm.
For a moment.
Then reached toward her chin as though considering touching her face.
He stopped just short.
“Pretty woman like you shouldn't make things hard on herself.”
Hannah visibly flinched.
Ava looked at his hand.
Then at him.
“Touch my face and this becomes a different conversation.”
His hand lowered.
His smile did not.
“See?”
“There.”
“That thing.”
“What thing?”
“That attitude.”
He laughed softly.
“Like you're the one holding cards.”
Ava glanced toward the black phone.
Mercer followed her eyes.
His smile widened.
“Oh.”
“You waiting for somebody?”
Ava said nothing.
He leaned back against the counter.
“Maybe that's it.”
“Some man tracks you.”
“Rich husband?”
“No ring.”
“Boyfriend?”
Ava's expression remained cold.
Mercer continued because nobody stopped him.
“Would be a shame if he knew how much trouble you caused yourself.”
Ava inhaled slowly.
Then said:
“You should call whoever trained you.”
Mercer's face hardened again.
“Why?”
“To ask which part of custodial authority made you think sexual comments were a good idea.”
Hannah stopped typing completely.
The sheriff looked toward her.
Then back.
“Sexual comments?”
He laughed.
“You think highly of yourself.”
“No.”
Ava's voice remained level.
“I think accurately of you.”
Mercer pushed away from the counter.
His hand caught Ava's cuffed wrists.
He pulled them slightly forward.
Not enough to injure.
Enough to assert control.
“Listen to me.”
Ava's shoulders stayed relaxed.
“I am.”
“Good.”
“Because you are not in Atlanta now.”
“This is Mercer County.”
“People out there might care about your business cards and your attitude and whatever man bought you that phone.”
“In here?”
He tapped his own badge.
“This matters.”
Ava looked at the badge.
Then at him.
“You're right.”
He smiled.
“It matters a lot.”
Mercer interpreted that incorrectly.
Before he could answer, the black phone lit up.
No ringtone.
Just a sudden white pulse along one edge of the case.
Hannah looked toward it.
Mercer did too.
The screen remained mostly black.
Then a single red icon appeared.
Ava felt her breathing change.
Not visibly.
Internally.
The device had entered secure recovery mode.
Which meant someone had noticed.
Mercer picked it up.
Ava said:
“Put it down.”
His expression turned delighted.
“Now you're interested.”
“Put it down.”
“What happens if I don't?”
The phone pulsed again.
Then rang.
Not like a consumer phone.
Two short tones.
Pause.
Two more.
Hannah stared.
Mercer frowned.
“What kind of ringtone is that?”
Ava said:
“The kind you should answer very carefully.”
He laughed.
“Really?”
“Yes.”