Then at Mercer.
A fraction of a second.
That was all.
But Marcus saw something pass between them.
Fear.
Mercer saw it too.
He pointed toward Hollis.
“He told me to secure anything sensitive.”
Hollis snapped:
“Be quiet.”
The entire room stopped.
Mercer stared at him.
“What?”
Hollis stepped closer.
“Do not say another word until counsel arrives.”
Mercer’s face changed.
The loyalty that had carried him through the previous days cracked.
“You said we’d handle it.”
Hollis’s jaw tightened.
“I said stop talking.”
Marcus watched the unraveling begin.
Federal investigators separated them.
Mercer received counsel.
Hollis received counsel.
Danner was formally interviewed outside the department chain of command.
This time, the young officer told everything.
He admitted he had deliberately left his body camera recording after Mercer ordered him to turn it off.
“Why?” the prosecutor asked.
Danner sat with both hands clasped.
“Because I knew the stop was wrong.”
“When?”
“When I read the plate information.”
“Before the search?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you stop Sergeant Mercer?”
Danner looked ashamed.
“He was my supervisor.”
“That isn’t an answer.”
“No.”
Danner swallowed.
“I was afraid.”