“Put it on speaker.”
Hannah looked at Ava.
Ava did not move.
Mercer tossed the device toward the counter.
“Speaker.”
Hannah hesitated.
The phone rang again.
Mercer pointed.
“Do it.”
Hannah touched the accept control.
A voice came through.
Male.
Calm.
Professional.
“Secure line verification. Identify station.”
Mercer frowned.
“This is Sheriff Wade Mercer.”
Pause.
Then:
“Sheriff Mercer, this is Supervisory Special Agent Jonathan Hale with the Federal Public Integrity Task Force.”
The room changed.
Not loudly.
No dramatic music.
Just stillness.
Hannah slowly removed her hand from the phone.
Mercer's face did not yet show fear.
Only confusion.
“What?”
The voice continued.
“We have an emergency custody alert associated with Special Agent Ava Cole.”
Mercer looked toward Ava.
She did not smile.
Hale continued:
“Confirm Agent Cole's status immediately.”
The sheriff's mouth opened.
Nothing came out.
Hannah stared at Ava.
The words landed one by one.
Special.
Agent.
Ava.
Cole.
Mercer looked at the handcuffs.
Then at Ava.
Then at the phone.
Ava finally spoke.
“I'm standing beside him.”
Hale's voice changed instantly.
“Ava?”
“Yes.”
“Injured?”
“No.”
“Restrained?”
“Yes.”
The sheriff found his voice.
“Hold on.”
Hale ignored him.
“Were you searched?”
“My vehicle was.”
“Consent?”
“No.”
“Warrant?”
“No.”
“Probable cause stated?”
“Fabricated odor allegation.”
Mercer's face reddened.
“That is not—”
Hale cut him off.
“Sheriff Mercer, do not speak over Agent Cole.”
Mercer stared at the phone as though it had insulted him personally.
Hale continued:
“Remove the restraints.”
Mercer did not move.
Ava watched him.
This was the moment.
Not the reveal.
Not the title.
The choice after knowledge.
Would he correct himself?
Or defend himself harder?
Mercer looked at Ava.
“You're federal?”
“Yes.”
“What agency?”
Hale answered.
“The agency currently reviewing allegations involving your department.”
Hannah inhaled audibly.
Mercer's face lost color.
Ava watched understanding arrive.
Not complete.
Enough.
The sheriff stepped backward.
His hand drifted toward the cuff key.
Then stopped.
“You set me up.”
Ava's eyes hardened.
“No.”
“You came into my county looking for trouble.”
“I drove forty-seven miles without breaking a traffic law.”
“You refused a lawful search.”
“I refused consent.”
“You were evasive.”
“I answered legally required questions.”
“You knew who I was.”
“Yes.”
“You wanted this.”
Ava stared.
“Sheriff, I wanted to drive through your county, observe, and leave.”
“You decided what happened after that.”