Called widows.
Helped ranchers during wildfires.
He had also abused power.
Both were true.
That made the trial harder emotionally.
Not legally.
The prosecutor wanted Elena as first major witness.
She requested not to be.
“Why?”
“Start with Miguel Santos.”
The prosecutor frowned.
“The assault on you is cleaner.”
“Exactly.”
“You want jury to understand bigger pattern.”
“Yes.”
“But clean facts first help.”
Elena stared.
“Clean facts make this about what happened to a state investigator.”
“It isn’t.”
Eventually compromise.
They began with evidence records.
Then Miguel.
Then jail nurse.
Then Mason.
Then Elena.
When she took the stand, Hollis stared at her.
Same eyes as the parking lot.
Less power.
More anger.
Prosecutor asked:
“Why were you working in Red Mesa County?”
“State investigation.”
“Into whom?”
“Sheriff’s office practices, including complaint suppression, evidence handling, force documentation, and employee retaliation.”
“Was Sheriff Hollis aware?”
“No.”
“Did you provoke him physically on the day of the incident?”
“No.”
“Threaten him?”
“No.”
“Disobey a lawful order?”
“No.”
“What were you doing?”
“Attempting to preserve a report.”
The prosecutor played video.
The courtroom watched.
Hollis slap the radio.
Shove Elena.
Her fall.
His boot.
“One.”
Two.
Three.
A few jurors visibly reacted.
Then:
“You think somebody is going to take your word over mine?”
Elena on video:
“No. That’s why I’m counting the recordings.”
The prosecutor stopped playback.
“Why did you count?”
Elena answered:
“To remain focused.”
“Focused on what?”
“Evidence.”
“Not pain?”
“Both.”
“Were you afraid?”
Elena paused.
“Yes.”
Hollis looked surprised.
The prosecutor asked:
“Of Sheriff Hollis?”
“Yes.”
“Even though you knew state officers were nearby?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Elena looked toward the jury.
“Because help being nearby does not make someone’s boot lighter.”
Silence.
Defense cross-examination came hard.
“You entered the sheriff’s office under false pretenses.”
“Undercover authorization.”
“You lied to Sheriff Hollis.”
“About my employer.”
“You gained trust.”
“Yes.”
“Recorded private conversations.”
“With legal authorization when required.”
“You wanted my client to react.”
“No.”
“Really?”
The attorney approached.
“You refused his instruction to withdraw a report.”
“Yes.”
“You knew that would anger him.”