“If someone claims they personally bought a vehicle like this, I’m allowed to ask questions.”
“You can ask.”
“I can decline.”
Daniel’s face hardened.
“This isn't a deposition.”
“No.”
Elena glanced toward the body camera.
“But it is being recorded.”
Daniel followed her eyes to the camera.
Something subtle changed.
The awareness of a future audience.
Elena pointed toward the registration.
“Read the owner’s name.”
Daniel stared.
“Excuse me?”
“Read the owner’s name.”
“I’ll wait.”
Wind moved across the station.
A paper receipt fluttered near the trash bin.
A man fueling a pickup three pumps away looked over.
Inside the convenience store, the clerk had moved closer to the window.
Daniel looked down at the registration.
He knew exactly what it said.
Elena waited.
His face tightened.
“You expect me to believe you personally paid half a million dollars for this?”
Claire closed her eyes briefly.
There it was.
Elena did not raise her voice.
Her anger became colder instead.
“That document does not require your belief.”
Daniel stared.
She continued.
“It records ownership.”
“You don't need to believe anything.”
“You need to read.”
The man at the neighboring pump stopped pretending not to listen.
Daniel noticed.
Public challenge.
Authority and audience make a dangerous combination when pride enters the room.
He stepped closer.
Elena remained still.
“You're getting argumentative.”
“No.”
“I’m answering.”
“You’re refusing basic questions.”
“I answered how I obtained the vehicle.”
“You asked how I paid.”
“That is not a basic ownership question.”
Daniel held the registration farther from her.
“Maybe I need to verify financing.”
Elena almost laughed.
“You are not my lender.”
Claire moved closer.
“Sheriff, the registration and license match.”
Daniel turned.
“I can read, Deputy.”
Claire’s mouth closed.
Elena watched that too.
Daniel looked toward the Lamborghini.
“How long have you owned it?”
“Seven months.”
“Where did you buy it?”
“Denver.”
“Dealer?”
“Yes.”
“Which one?”
Elena stared.
“Are you conducting a dealership survey?”
Daniel’s jaw tightened.
“You think this is funny?”
“No.”
“I think it is becoming very clear.”
“What is?”
Elena looked directly at him.
“That every answer I provide becomes the reason for another question.”
Daniel pointed toward the car.
“Because the situation doesn't make sense.”
The sentence hung there.
Elena tilted her head.
“What doesn't make sense?”
He paused.
Not long.
Enough.
Claire looked at him.
Daniel knew the safe answer.
Expensive vehicle.
Unfamiliar owner.
Fraud prevention.
Anything procedural.
Instead frustration beat training.
“You.”
Elena’s eyes sharpened.
“And that car.”
Silence.
The convenience-store clerk was filming now.
Daniel did not notice.
Claire did.
She looked toward the window.
Then at Daniel.
“Sheriff, maybe we should—”
“No.”
Elena asked:
“What about me conflicts with that registration?”
Daniel’s face reddened.
“Don't twist my words.”
“I repeated them.”