She sat across from him.
“You know why you're here.”
“I made a mistake.”
“No.”
Mercer swallowed.
“I made a mistake.”
“You assaulted an investigator.”
“I didn't know.”
“You planted evidence.”
“I didn't plant it.”
“You attempted to arrest me without probable cause.”
“I had reasonable suspicion.”
“You kicked my property into the street.”
He said nothing.
“You lied on your body camera.”
Mercer's eyes moved.
Naomi leaned forward.
“And you were contacted before the traffic stop.”
Mercer looked at her.
“I wasn't.”
“Yes, you were.”
“No.”
“We recovered your deleted contact.”
His face changed.
Northstar.
She watched him recognize the word.
There it was.
The fear.
“You know what it means.”
Mercer looked down.
“I don't know anything.”
“You know enough.”
“No.”
“Who gave you the powder?”
“I found it.”
“Who gave it to you?”
“Nobody.”
“Who told you to stop my vehicle?”
“Nobody.”
“Who told you my name?”
He remained silent.
Naomi waited.
The silence lasted thirty seconds.
Then one minute.
Mercer finally whispered.
“I'm not the one you should be talking to.”
“Who should I talk to?”
He looked toward the closed door.
Then back at her.
“The person who signs the checks.”
Naomi's expression hardened.
“Whose checks?”
Mercer didn't answer.
“Mercer.”
He looked at her.
“You want to know who owns the department?”
“Yes.”
He shook his head.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because if I tell you, they'll kill my family.”
Naomi leaned back.
“Who?”
He stared at her.
“You already know the name.”
She said nothing.
“Northstar.”
Naomi's pulse quickened.
“Tell me.”
Mercer closed his eyes.
“Victor Harlan isn't the boss.”
Naomi waited.
Mercer opened his eyes.
“He's the cleanup man.”
“Then who is above him?”
Mercer shook his head.
“I don't know.”
“You just said I already know.”
“I know what they told me.”
“What did they tell you?”
“That the woman investigating the department had to be discredited.”
Naomi's eyes narrowed.
“When?”
“Three days ago.”
“Who contacted you?”
“Text.”
“From whom?”
“Unknown number.”
“Show me.”
“They took my phone.”
“We have it.”
He swallowed.
“Then you already know.”
“We recovered only the messages.”
Mercer stared.
“What messages?”
“Deleted.”
His face became pale.
“You can recover those?”