Noah turned. A dark sedan had stopped in front of the building. Two people stepped out. A man carried a leather document folder. The woman beside him held a second file against her chest.

Neither wore a uniform. Mercer came out of the hallway. Who's that? The dispatcher checked the front monitor. County attorney's office, I think.

Dugan's office door opened immediately. He stepped into the corridor and looked toward the entrance. Noah glanced at the wall clock again. 15 minutes remained before midnight. Whatever Dugan had been trying to finish before then was about to meet two people who had arrived carrying paperwork of their own.

The front doors opened and the man from the county sedan stepped inside with the woman beside him. Both appeared to be in their 50s. The man wore a dark suit and carried a leather folder. The woman carried a thick county file with several official tabs visible along the edge. Dugan walked toward them before the dispatcher could leave her desk.

Evening. Captain Raymond Dugan. The man offered a brief handshake. Michael Reeves, county attorney. This is Helen Porter from the Board of County Commissioner's Office.

Dugan looked at the folder in Reeves's hand. What can I do for you? We need Maya Williams. Dugan's expression changed only slightly. You're here about the restricted records.

Reeves did not answer the question. Where is Miss Williams? She's being held while we investigate possible unlawful possession of internal county material. Porter looked at Reeves, then at Dugan. Reeves asked, "Held, interview holding.

Has she been formally charged? We're still working through the incident. Then bring her out. Dugan's tone remained polite. I'll need more than that.

We have an active investigation. Reeves looked toward the clock above the booking desk. It was a few minutes before midnight. We can wait. Dugan frowned.

For what? Reeves did not explain. Mercer had come out of the hallway and was now standing several feet away. Noah remained near the evidence workstation. Porter placed her county file on the counter but kept one hand on it.

Dugan looked between them. If this is about the case in her vehicle, we have reason to believe it contains restricted internal review documents. She refused to explain how she obtained them. Reeves asked. Did anyone verify the control number on the case?

Dugan paused. We were in the process. That sounds like a no. Mercer stepped forward. The circumstances gave us reason to believe the material could be stolen.

Reeves looked at him. You are Deputy Travis Mercer. Porter glanced at the file in front of her. Mercer noticed. What?

Nothing. She said. Reeves returned his attention to Dugan. I want Miss Williams brought out. Dugan crossed his arms again.

You're asking me to interrupt an active investigation. Reeves looked at the clock. One minute remained before midnight. Captain, I'm not asking you to interrupt anything yet. The room became unusually quiet.

The dispatcher stopped typing. Noah looked toward the clock. Mercer followed his attention. Dugan appeared more irritated than concerned. Then the minute changed.

Midnight. Porter opened the county file. Reeves waited several seconds longer before speaking. Now bring her out. Dugan's patience ended.

On whose authority? Porter removed a certified document and placed it on the counter. Reeves turned it toward him. On hers, Dugan looked down. At the top of the document was the official county seal.

Beneath it was the appointment language approved by the board of county commissioners. His eyes moved lower. Maya Williams, sheriff of Carver County. Effective at 12 midnight Monday. Dugan read the page again.

Mercer stepped closer. What is that? Noah already understood. Reeves looked at the clock once more. It was 1 minute past midnight.

Captain, he said, "Maya Williams is now the sheriff of Carver County. I suggest you open that holding room door." Mercer stared at the document. She never told us. Nobody answered him. Dugan remained still for several seconds before turning toward the hallway.

"Get her." A deputy moved quickly toward the holding area. Noah looked at Mercer. The anger that had driven Mercer for most of the evening was gone. He appeared to be trying to reconstruct every conversation he had had with Maya since the traffic stop began. A minute later, Maya entered the administrative area.

She was no longer handcuffed. She did not smile. She did not look at Mercer first. Her attention went to the evidence processing area. The black case had been repackaged.

The dash camera carried a damaged equipment tag. A new evidence bag had replaced the one she had seen earlier. Then she looked at Dugan. Reeves handed her a copy of the appointment document. Sheriff Williams.

Maya accepted it. Thank you. Mercer spoke before anyone else could. If you'd told us who you were, none of this would have happened. Maya looked at him.

She held his gaze for a moment, but did not answer. There were more important things to do. She turned to Reeves. I want every evidence system in this building frozen. Dugan stepped forward.

Sheriff, before you start issuing orders, there are details you need to understand. Maya looked at him. I understand enough to know that nothing else gets changed tonight. She faced the dispatcher and the evidence staff. From this moment forward, nobody deletes, moves, edits, destroys, or reclassifies any item connected to this incident.

Dugan tried again. There are routine processing procedures already underway. They stop. You're personally involved in the incident. You can't run the investigation.