That order told her something.
"General," Shaw said, extending a hand. "Captain Everett Shaw. I supervise this district. I understand there has been a misunderstanding involving an identification check."
Thorne shook his hand briefly. "Your officer destroyed a legitimate federal credential and detained an investigator after she identified herself. Those are serious facts, not a misunderstanding."
Shaw turned a sympathetic look on Danielle. "Agent Cross, I regret that the situation became uncomfortable. My officer was responding to a person approaching sensitive fuel infrastructure. You can appreciate the need for caution."
"Caution would have meant verification," Danielle replied. "I offered it several times."
"I'm sure you'll have an opportunity to explain your perspective in the proper report."
"I intend to. The larger issue is the fuel equipment. We have evidence of false charges against federal accounts. I'd like to speak with the station manager and proceed with the approved inspection."
Shaw's expression barely changed, but his stance shifted. He moved half a step in front of her line toward the office.
"For the moment, my officers will maintain control of the scene. We have a potentially disputed arrest, damaged identification, and questions about access to commercial machinery. It's best that nobody touch anything until we sort out jurisdiction."
"The station isn't a crime scene under your exclusive control because your officer made a questionable arrest," Danielle answered. "You can preserve a scene without shutting out a federal investigation."
"We have procedures."
"So do we. I've coordinated with the station's operator, and an inspection authority is being delivered to the scene."
Shaw smiled. "Then we'll wait for the paperwork."
He looked toward two patrol officers who had arrived behind him. "Secure the office, the DVR, and the fuel control room. Nobody accesses those areas without my authorization."
Danielle watched the officers exchange uncertain glances. Shaw had issued the instruction loudly enough for the general to hear and for everyone else to understand that it was an assertion of control. One officer moved toward the retail entrance. Another headed toward the maintenance cabinet at the end of the island.
"Captain," Thorne said, "you have just ordered your officers to restrict access to the very evidence we are investigating. I recommend that you speak with your department's legal counsel and the federal prosecutor before proceeding."
"With respect, General, local law enforcement has responsibilities here. A civilian business sits in my district. Four stars do not replace local procedure."
"They don't," Thorne agreed. "And local procedure does not authorize the destruction or concealment of federal evidence."
Shaw's eyes flickered. Danielle saw him glance toward pump six again, just as Voss had done earlier. She had spent weeks studying transaction patterns and damaged billing records. Now she was studying two men who both seemed less concerned with a false identity than with a locked maintenance cabinet.
The conclusion forming in her mind was still only a hypothesis. But it was becoming a powerful one.