For a moment, she simply looked at the empty parking space.
Then she heard a familiar voice.
"Excuse me, ma'am."
She turned.
The elderly woman from the towing complaint stood several feet away.
She wore a pale blue cardigan and held a small handbag.
Her silver hair was neatly styled.
Her expression was warm.
The investigator recognized her from the case records and public meeting footage.
"Hello."
The older woman smiled.
"I hoped I might find you here."
The investigator looked surprised.
"How can I help?"
The elderly woman shook her head.
"I'm not here to ask for anything."
She stepped closer.
"I wanted to tell you something."
The investigator waited.
The older woman gestured toward the street.
"I bought another car."
The investigator smiled.
"That's wonderful."
"It's not fancy."
"I'm sure it's perfect."
The elderly woman laughed.
"It's a little used sedan. Makes a funny noise when the air conditioner starts."
The investigator laughed with her.
"But it gets me to the doctor."
The woman's smile softened.
"And I don't have to beg people for rides anymore."
The investigator felt her eyes fill.
"I'm glad."
The elderly woman looked toward the courthouse.
"I watched what happened to you."
The investigator became quiet.
The woman continued.
"I was angry."
She paused.
"Not because your car was expensive."
The investigator nodded.
"Because I knew how it felt when somebody with authority decided you weren't worth listening to."
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then the elderly woman reached for her hand.
"I don't know everything that happened in those investigations."
The young woman listened.
"But I know somebody finally looked at my paperwork."
Her voice trembled.
"And somebody finally admitted what happened wasn't right."
The investigator swallowed.
The older woman continued.
"So thank you."
The young investigator shook her head.
"You shouldn't have had to wait so long."
The woman nodded.
"No. I shouldn't."
Then she smiled.
"But maybe the next person won't."
The investigator looked toward the courthouse.
For eighteen months, she'd carried the memory of the deputies destroying her car.