Chapter 4: The Name That Terrified the Sheriff
For several seconds, I couldn't take my eyes off the document.
Richard Hale.
The Bellhaven County District Attorney.
His signature appeared beneath the authorization for releasing evidence connected to a murder conviction. The same evidence that had allegedly disappeared from the sheriff's property room.
I looked at Deputy Reed.
"How many records have you found with his signature?""
Reed swallowed.
"Twenty-three, Your Honor.""
"Twenty-three?""
"Yes, ma'am. Different cases. Different evidence releases. Some of them happened after the defendants were already convicted.""
I slowly lowered the paper.
"Who had access to these records?""
"Sheriff Voss, the evidence supervisor, and the district attorney's office.""
I glanced toward the sheriff.
Dalton Voss was standing near the booking desk, pretending to examine his phone. But his fingers were shaking.
"Deputy Reed," I said, "is there a record of who physically removed the evidence?""
"Sometimes. Not always.""
"Why not?""
He looked uncomfortable.
"Because the system was manually overridden.""
"By whom?""
Reed didn't answer immediately.
Then he whispered, "The sheriff.""
Voss suddenly slammed his phone onto the counter.
"That's enough!""
He marched toward the cell.
"Reed, get away from those bars.""
The young deputy remained where he was.
Voss pointed at the document.
"That file is confidential.""
I looked at him.
"Then why was it accessible to an unauthorized person?""
His face reddened.
"You don't understand how this department operates.""
"You're right, Sheriff. I don't understand how evidence disappears from criminal cases while your name repeatedly appears in the authorization records.""
Voss leaned toward me.
"Be careful, Judge.""
I smiled faintly.
"Is that another threat?""
He stepped back.
Before he could answer, the front doors burst open.
Three United States Marshals entered, wearing dark tactical uniforms and carrying identification credentials.
The first man was tall, with a close-cropped beard and a serious expression.
"Where is Judge Whitlock?""
I raised my hand.
"Here.""
He immediately approached the cell.
"Your Honor, I'm Deputy Marshal Thomas Greene. Are you injured?""
"No. But I'd appreciate having these handcuffs removed.""
Greene looked toward Voss.
"Who placed her in custody?""
Voss stepped forward.
"I did. We had a legitimate investigative reason.""
Greene didn't look impressed.
"Then you can explain it to the federal investigators.""
He turned toward Deputy Reed.
"Who has the cell keys?""
Reed reached for his belt.
Voss immediately interrupted.
"Nobody opens that cell without my authorization.""
Greene slowly turned.
"Excuse me?""
"This is my facility.""
Greene pulled out a document.
"Judge Whitlock's detention is now the subject of an emergency federal inquiry. I strongly suggest you cooperate.""
Voss looked at the paper.
For the first time, he appeared genuinely frightened.
"You're overstepping your authority.""
Greene didn't raise his voice.
"Then we'll let the appropriate authorities determine that.""
He turned back to Reed.
"Open the cell.""
Reed unlocked the door.
The moment I stepped outside, Greene checked the cuffs.
"Your Honor, may I?""
"Please.""
He removed them carefully.
Red marks circled my wrists.
Greene's expression hardened.
"These injuries will be photographed and documented.""
"Thank you.""
Voss folded his arms.
"You're treating this like some federal emergency. She's fine.""
I turned toward him.
"Would you say the same thing if I were the woman from the diner who couldn't call the Chief Judge?""
He said nothing.
I continued.
"Would you say the same thing if I didn't have a federal badge in my wallet?""
Deputy Cole looked down.
Reed stared at the floor.
Nobody answered.
Greene placed my identification case in my hand.
"Your Honor, we also recovered something from the patrol vehicle.""
"What?""
He looked at Voss.
"An envelope containing several documents. It appears someone placed them beneath the passenger seat.""
Voss immediately stiffened.
"What envelope?""
Greene opened a folder and removed a photograph.
It showed a brown envelope with a red evidence sticker.
My eyes narrowed.
"Where did that come from?""
"Your purse was transported in the same vehicle. Our preliminary inventory indicates the envelope wasn't among your belongings when the deputy first collected your property.""
I looked at Voss.
He suddenly became very interested in the ceiling.
"Was the vehicle searched before departure?"" I asked.
Greene nodded.
"Yes. The recording from the vehicle's internal camera is being preserved.""
Voss snapped.
"This is ridiculous!""
Greene looked directly at him.
"Then you should have nothing to worry about.""
A moment later, the dispatcher approached us.
"Marshal Greene?""
"Yes?""
"There's someone downstairs asking for Sheriff Voss.""
"Who?""
She hesitated.
"District Attorney Richard Hale.""
The sheriff's expression changed so dramatically that even the youngest deputy noticed.
Greene turned toward me.
"Your Honor, is that the name you were just investigating?""
"Yes.""
He nodded.
"Then perhaps we should hear what he has to say.""
Voss stepped between us.
"No. Hale has nothing to do with this.""
I looked at him.
"That's interesting, Sheriff. I haven't accused him of anything yet.""
Voss's mouth opened.
Then closed.
The dispatcher spoke again.
"There's something else.""
"What?""
She looked directly at the sheriff.
"Mr. Hale says he knows Judge Whitlock is here.""
A cold silence settled over the room.
I slowly turned toward the entrance.
"How does he know?""
Nobody answered.
Then the front doors opened.
Richard Hale walked inside wearing an expensive charcoal suit, polished black shoes, and the kind of smile that suggested he had never been told no.
He carried no briefcase.
He didn't need one.
He looked at me.
Then at the handcuffs lying on the counter.
Then at Dalton Voss.
"Well," he said quietly.
"This is considerably worse than I expected.""
And I realized something.
May you like
Richard Hale hadn't come to rescue the sheriff.
He had come because he was afraid of what I might discover next.
