Now he was watching his partner destroy a detained woman's property while threatening a civilian witness.
He knew he couldn't remain silent.
Then the communications unit inside my damaged vehicle began sounding its warning.
Miles looked toward the car.
Garrett looked toward him.
"What the hell is that?"
Miles didn't answer.
He raised his radio.
"Dispatch, Unit Twelve. Emergency traffic."
Garrett stepped toward him.
"Put that down!"
Miles continued.
"I need immediate supervisory response, state patrol, and medical assistance. One detained woman reports federal law-enforcement credentials. My partner has used force and damaged her vehicle."
Garrett lunged toward him.
Miles stepped sideways.
"Garrett, stop!"
The older deputy grabbed his shoulder.
"You just ended your career!"
Miles pulled free.
"No. I'm trying to stop you from ending somebody's life."
Garrett stared.
For a moment, his hand hovered near his handgun.
Then the radio crackled.
"Unit Twelve, confirm your location."
Miles gave the highway marker and service-road intersection.
The dispatcher repeated it.
Then another voice came over the radio.
"Unit Twelve, be advised that state communications has received an urgent inquiry from Fort Calhoun regarding an overdue Army CID investigator believed to be traveling through your area. Confirm the subject's identity and welfare."
Miles looked at me.
I looked back.
He swallowed.
"Dispatch, the detained woman's name is Renata Cole."
There was a pause.
Then the dispatcher answered.
"Stand by."
Garrett's expression changed.
He looked toward the Rolls-Royce.
Then toward me.
For the first time, I saw uncertainty in his eyes.
The radio crackled again.
"Unit Twelve, Fort Calhoun confirms an overdue special agent of that name. Do not transmit sensitive details on this channel. State patrol is responding. Secure the scene and request a supervisor immediately."
Miles raised his eyes toward Garrett.
"Now do you understand?"
Garrett stared.
But instead of stepping away, he pointed toward me.
"She could still be lying!"
Miles shook his head.
"The registration matches. The installation inquiry matches. We have no verified theft report."
Garrett's breathing grew heavy.
He looked toward Ruth.
She was still filming.
Then he looked toward the car.
Something passed across his face.
Fear.
Anger.
And something I didn't recognize until much later.
He wasn't simply frightened of being caught abusing his authority.
He was frightened of what might be discovered inside the vehicle.
And that was the first indication that my traffic stop hadn't happened by chance.
Garrett stared at the damaged Phantom for several seconds before moving.
I watched his eyes travel from the broken windshield to the trunk, then toward the small warning indicator flashing inside the cabin. He no longer seemed interested in whether I could afford the vehicle. The accusations about theft had served their purpose, and now he appeared to be searching for something more specific.