The government registration.
Danner stating the vehicle did not match.
Mercer continuing anyway.
The damage.
Then the credential case.
On the screen, Mercer opened it.
His expression froze exactly as Marcus remembered.
Danner’s recorded voice said:
“Sarge, those are FBI credentials.”
Then Mercer ordered the search to continue.
Brooks paused the video.
“That alone is catastrophic.”
“Keep going.”
The footage resumed.
Mercer ordering the body camera shut off.
Danner pretending it malfunctioned.
Marcus narrating the violations.
Hollis arriving.
Then, faintly but clearly, the camera captured part of Hollis’s conversation near the patrol vehicles.
Not every word.
Enough.
“Write it as suspicious behavior during a routine stop.”
Brooks paused again.
Marcus looked at her.
“Hollis knew.”
“He knew enough.”
They sent the footage to internal affairs and federal prosecutors.
The first internal review occurred that afternoon.
Lieutenant Patricia Valdez sat at the head of a long conference table.
Mercer and Hollis sat on one side.
Marcus and Brooks sat on the other.
Danner sat near the far end.
Valdez began simply.
“Sergeant Mercer, describe the basis for the initial stop.”
Mercer leaned forward.
“Credible narcotics intelligence.”
“Source?”
“Street intelligence.”
“Documented?”
“Not immediately.”
“Was it radioed?”
“No.”