She looked toward my wrists.
Then the damaged vehicle.
Then toward me.
"Are you Special Agent Cole?"
I nodded.
"Yes."
"My name is Lieutenant Brooks with the state patrol. We're here because of an emergency officer-assistance request and an inquiry from Fort Calhoun. Are you safe at the moment?"
I looked toward Garrett.
He was arguing with another trooper beside the patrol SUV.
"I'm safer than I was twenty minutes ago."
Brooks nodded.
"We're going to keep the parties separated. Medical personnel are on their way."
I took a breath.
"I want to make a formal complaint. I also need to preserve evidence relating to the stop and the damage to the vehicle."
"Understood."
I looked toward Miles.
"The younger deputy witnessed everything. So did the woman beside me."
Ruth lifted her phone.
"And I recorded it."
Brooks nodded.
"Thank you, ma'am. We'll arrange to obtain a copy without asking you to surrender your only recording."
Ruth's shoulders relaxed slightly.
Brooks looked back toward me.
"Can you tell me briefly what happened?"
I gave her the essentials.
The unexplained stop.
The demands.
The race-based accusations.
The violent removal from the car.
The handcuffs.
The baton.
The threats toward Ruth.
And Garrett's repeated attempts to reach the trunk.
Brooks listened without interrupting.
When I finished, she looked toward the Phantom.
"Did he say what he was searching for?"
I hesitated.
Then answered carefully.
"He asked about a black case that I had not described."
Her expression changed.
"Was there such a case?"
"There is authorized government equipment in a secured compartment. Its status and relevance need to be handled through my agency and your investigators."
Brooks nodded.
"Understood. We won't disturb it casually."
I looked toward Garrett.
He was gesturing angrily toward the patrol SUV.
Then something happened that made my stomach tighten again.
A black pickup turned onto the service road.
It approached slowly.
The driver wore civilian clothes.
The truck had a towing-company logo on the door.
Garrett immediately pointed toward it.
"There! That's the tow!"
I looked at Brooks.
"Did you request a tow truck?"
She frowned.
"No."
The black pickup stopped near my Rolls-Royce.
A large man wearing sunglasses climbed out.
He looked toward Garrett, then toward the car.
"Got the call."
Lieutenant Brooks walked toward him.
"From whom?"
The driver glanced at Garrett.
"County sheriff's office."
Brooks looked toward the damaged Phantom.
"Who authorized removal?"
Garrett approached.
"I did."
She turned toward him.
"On what basis?"
"Vehicle investigation."
"Was the vehicle reported stolen?"
Garrett hesitated.
"Not yet."
Brooks stared.
"What does that mean?"
He folded his arms.
"We're still checking."
She looked toward the tow driver.
"Sir, stand by. This vehicle is part of an active incident investigation and will not be moved without appropriate authorization."