The investigator wrote something.
Then asked one final question.
"Did you know the woman was coming to the courthouse for a state records review?"
The deputy stared at the table.
After a long silence, he answered.
"I knew someone important was coming."
The investigator waited.
The younger deputy continued.
"But I didn't know it was her."
He looked up.
"And I didn't ask."
The older deputy's interview was considerably more difficult.
He arrived angry.
He insisted the public had misunderstood the confrontation.
He claimed the woman had been uncooperative.
He argued that the damaged vehicle was the result of a legitimate attempt to conduct an inspection.
When investigators asked why he struck the mirror, he said he'd been trying to gain access to the vehicle.
When they asked why he struck the window, he said he believed evidence might be inside.
Then an investigator asked the question he couldn't answer.
"What offense were you investigating that authorized that entry?"
The deputy leaned back.
"I was acting on information from command."
"What information?"
"A hold order."
"Who issued it?"
He hesitated.
"Administration."
"Can you identify the official?"
The deputy looked toward his attorney.
Then answered.
"I'd need to review the records."
The investigator nodded.
"That's fine."
He placed a document on the table.
It was the dispatch summary.
Then he placed another.
A transcript of the radio communication.
Then a third.
A message extracted from the deputy's department-issued phone under the applicable investigative authorization.
The older deputy stared at it.
His expression changed.
The message had arrived that morning.
It instructed him to locate the luxury vehicle near the courthouse, prevent its departure, and confirm whether a black document case was inside.
The sender was an administrative supervisor assigned to the sheriff's office.
The investigator looked at the deputy.
"Did you receive this?"
The deputy swallowed.
"Yes."
"Did you understand who owned the vehicle?"
"No."
"Did you know whether it was stolen?"
"No."
"Then why did you tell the driver you were investigating a stolen car?"
The deputy stared at the document.
For the first time, his confidence seemed to collapse.