“You also need to decide whether you’re a witness, a participant, or both.”
Pike looked toward the highway.
Then at Keller being placed inside the Charger.
His career had lasted six months.
It suddenly looked much older.
Vance picked up his wallet.
Dust coated the leather.
His commission card had a boot mark across one edge.
He brushed it clean.
Mercer said, “Your sister’s clinic?”
Vance checked the money after an agent removed it from evidence long enough to document the denominations against the withdrawal record.
“All there.”
“Good.”
Vance looked toward his truck.
“I need to get it to her.”
Mercer raised an eyebrow.
“You’re not going anywhere until medical looks at your hand.”
“Ellis.”
“Not negotiable.”
Vance sighed.
“You always this pleasant?”
“Only with people who ignore operational safety.”
A task-force medic examined Vance beside the truck.
No broken bones.
Deep bruising.
Several cuts from gravel.
The medic wrapped the hand.
Vance watched agents photograph the cruiser.
Another team arrived.
Then a marked state patrol unit.
The shoulder became a controlled scene.
Drivers passing slowed to stare.
The same highway that Keller had treated like private territory had become crowded with people carrying evidence bags.
Pike sat on the rear bumper of a task-force SUV.
Alone.
Vance watched him.
Mercer noticed.
“Don’t.”
“What?”
“You’re thinking about talking to him.”
“He’s twenty-four.”
“He wore the uniform.”
“So did I.”
Mercer looked at him.
“You never watched your partner extort drivers.”
“You don’t know what he watched.”
Mercer’s expression said he knew enough.
Vance continued.
“If you want him talking, someone needs to make sure he understands this isn’t a choice between Keller and prison.”
Mercer studied him.
“You volunteered for bait. That does not make you the task-force therapist.”
“Good. I charge too much.”
Mercer sighed.
“Five minutes.”
Vance walked toward Pike.
The young deputy saw him.
His eyes immediately dropped to the wrapped hand.
“I’m sorry.”
Vance stopped.
“For what?”
Pike looked confused.
“You know.”
“Say it.”
The young deputy swallowed.
“For not stopping him sooner.”
Vance nodded.
“Better.”
Pike stared at the gravel.
“He told me everybody did it.”
“Everybody does a lot of things.”
“He said the cash seizures were informal fines.”
Vance said nothing.
Pike continued.
“I knew that wasn’t right.”
“How long?”
“First month.”
“You saw him take money?”
“Yes.”
“How many times?”
Pike’s face twisted.
“I don’t know.”
“You do.”
He looked up.
“Maybe fourteen.”
Vance kept his expression neutral.
“Any reports?”
“No.”
“Any body-camera footage?”
“Keller shut his off.”
“Yours?”
Pike hesitated.
“Sometimes on.”
Vance stared.
That mattered.
“Sometimes?”
“He’d tell me to mute or face away.”
“Did you?”
“Yes.”
“Every time?”
“No.”