“Did you?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
Danner looked toward Mercer.
“Because I thought he was trying to hide what had happened.”
Mercer’s attorney challenged him.
“You were afraid for your career.”
“Yes.”
“You participated in the search.”
“Yes.”
“You could have stopped.”
Danner paused.
“I could have objected more strongly.”
“So now you blame your supervisor to save yourself?”
Danner looked at the attorney.
“No.”
“What are you doing?”
“Telling you what I did wrong too.”
The answer landed differently than expected.
The prosecutor later called the federal vehicle technician.
She explained the compartment security system.
No dramatic jargon.
Just logs.
Forced access.
Weight before.
Weight after.
Time.
Then the synchronized body camera.
Mercer removing the packet.
Walking away.
Returning empty-handed.
Then the warrant photograph of the same serial-numbered packet inside his locker.
Mercer’s attorney argued someone could have placed it there.
The prosecutor asked:
“Who?”
No answer.
“Agent Vance?”
No evidence Marcus had access.
“Officer Danner?”
No evidence.
“Federal investigators?”