“I didn't receive that.”
“You were not required to receive operational details.”
Mara folded her arms.
Vance continued.
“She was not to be detained, searched, questioned, or separated from her credentials.”
Colter looked at the black wallet in Mara's hand.
His face became pale.
“You struck her.”
It wasn't a question.
Colter's eyes moved toward Evan.
“How would you know that?”
“We're watching.”
Mara looked up at the security camera in the corner.
The red indicator light was glowing.
Vance said, “The booking room is recorded.”
Colter stared at the camera.
“Sheriff,” Vance continued, “I strongly recommend that you stop speaking and start listening.”
Colter swallowed.
“Yes, sir.”
“You are about to learn why Ms. Ellison was sent to Bell County.”
Mara finally spoke.
“Thomas.”
“Yes?”
“Tell him the truth.”
There was a pause.
Then Vance said, “Sheriff, one of your deputies has been reporting restricted information to a private security contractor.”
Evan's face went white.
Colter turned sharply.
“What?”
Vance continued.
“Vehicle movements. Arrest schedules. prisoner transfers. Evidence locations.”
Colter stared at Evan.
“Who?”
“We don't know yet.”
Mara stepped closer.
“But we know the information was coming from inside this building.”
Colter looked around the room.
The fluorescent lights hummed overhead.
The computer screens glowed.
The holding cells remained empty.
Suddenly the ordinary sheriff's office looked different.
Every camera seemed like an eye.
Every locked cabinet seemed like a question.
Every person in the building could potentially be involved.
Colter looked at Evan.
“You?”
Evan shook his head.
“No.”
“Then who?”
“I don't know.”
Mara studied him.
“You're telling the truth.”
Evan looked at her.
“How can you know that?”
“Because you're scared.”
He gave a nervous laugh.
“That's not exactly proof.”
“No.”
Mara looked at Colter.
“But fear is harder to fake than confidence.”
The sheriff said nothing.
The phone crackled.
Vance returned to the line.
“Ms. Ellison, are you physically injured?”
“No.”
“Are you able to continue?”
“Yes.”
“Then continue.”
Mara nodded.
Colter stared at her.
“Continue what?”
She looked at him.
“Your investigation.”
“You haven't told me what we're investigating.”
“No.”
“Then why are you here?”
Mara walked toward the desk.
“Because somebody has been using your department to move information.”
Colter's jaw tightened.
“And you think that's me?”
“No.”
“Then who?”
“I don't know yet.”
“Then why did you let me bring you in?”
Mara's expression became almost sympathetic.
“Because I needed to see what happened when someone thought I was powerless.”
Colter stared at her.
The meaning landed slowly.
“You wanted to be arrested.”
“I needed to know who would do it.”
Evan whispered, “Oh my God.”
Mara looked at him.
“You weren't the target.”
Evan stared.
“What?”
“You were the witness.”
He looked toward the security camera.
Mara continued.
“Your sheriff was supposed to believe he was controlling the situation.”
She turned toward Colter.
“And you were supposed to show me what you do when you think nobody important is watching.”
Colter's face hardened.
“You manipulated me.”