A dark red Ducati Panigale V4 approached the checkpoint on Kingsley Boulevard. Sheriff Raymond Hale stood beside the command vehicle with Officer Travis Mercer, watching traffic move through the inspection lane.
Hale focused on the motorcycle as it came closer. "Do you find this subject suspicious?"
"I think that V4 is stolen." The Ducati passed them before Mercer answered. "Go after her and stop her," Hale ordered.
Mercer immediately took off sprinting after the Ducati on foot at full speed. Hale opened the driver's door, started the engine, and pulled away from the checkpoint. The emergency lights came on, followed by the siren.
Maya Williams checked her rearview mirror. She reduced her speed, activated her turn signal, and guided the Ducati to the shoulder. She stopped in a safe position, turned off the engine, and placed both hands on the handlebars. The patrol car stopped at an angle behind her.
Mercer stepped out and moved quickly toward the motorcycle. "Take your hands off that motorcycle." Maya slowly removed her helmet. "I followed every posted sign," she said. "Please tell me why you ordered me to stop."
Mercer stopped several feet away before answering. He looked over the Ducati. His attention settled on a small green light beneath the instrument panel. "What is that?"
Maya followed his gaze. "It is part of the motorcycle's recording system."
Mercer stepped closer. The Ducati had two integrated cameras. One faced forward beneath the fairing. The second recorded the road behind it. The system activated automatically when the motorcycle started and uploaded the footage when the engine was turned off. A cloud symbol was visible on the display.
Mercer leaned toward it. "This thing recorded us?" "It records every ride." "Audio, too?"
"Yes." Mercer looked back toward Hale, who was still walking from the command vehicle. "The bike has cameras," Mercer said. "It is uploading."
Hale's expression changed. "What has it recorded?" "Everything since she entered the checkpoint."
The display showed the upload at 18%. That meant Hale's first statement had been recorded. His order to pursue Maya had also been recorded before either officer claimed there was a theft report. Mercer reached toward the instrument panel. "Do not touch the motorcycle," Maya said.
He turned toward her. "You do not give orders here." "That system is preserving a recording of this stop." Mercer pulled the baton from his belt and raised it slightly. "If equipment interferes with an investigation, we can disable it."
Maya remained beside the Ducati with her hands visible. "It is not interfering. It is recording." Mercer looked at the rising upload percentage. "If the transmitter is damaged, the upload stops."