Then two deputies had stopped her outside the courthouse, demanded access to her vehicle, and damaged it when she questioned their authority.
The captain looked toward the older deputy.
For years, he'd believed that man was aggressive but manageable.
A difficult personality.
A deputy who sometimes needed reminding that patience was part of professional law enforcement.
Now he was forced to consider a much more serious possibility.
What if the aggression hadn't been spontaneous?
What if somebody had wanted those deputies to intercept the investigator before she entered the courthouse?
And what if the damaged car wasn't a reckless accident but part of an attempt to obtain material connected to an active state investigation?
The captain looked toward the investigator.
"We need to speak privately."
She nodded.
"Yes."
Then she looked toward the two deputies.
"But first, I want them separated from any access to the dispatch records involved in this incident."
The captain agreed.
He instructed an uninvolved supervisor to arrange their relief from duty pending review, secure the relevant recordings, and document their equipment according to department policy.
The older deputy stared.
"You're taking us off duty because she claims she's a state investigator?"
The captain looked at him.
"No."
The deputy seemed momentarily relieved.
Then the captain continued.
"I'm taking you off duty because you've damaged a civilian vehicle, used force against its owner, and raised serious questions about the legal basis for your actions."
He paused.
"Her profession doesn't change any of that."
The investigator glanced toward him.
For the first time, she saw something in the captain's expression besides fear.
She saw a man beginning to understand how badly his department's culture had failed.
But she wasn't ready to trust him.
Not yet.
The older deputy had worked in Hawthorne County for twelve years.
He came from a family with a long history in local law enforcement.
His father had served as a corrections officer.
An uncle had worked in the sheriff's department.
Several relatives were involved in county politics.
He had grown up believing that a badge brought respect.