He paused. "Your title may attract attention, but it does not make your complaint more valid than anyone else's." "That is exactly what I want the record to show."
After the call, Maya met Eleanor and Ruth at Eleanor's office in Atlanta. The office occupied part of an older brick building near the federal courthouse. Framed case decisions covered one wall. A coffee maker sat on a cabinet beside several boxes of trial records.
Special Agent Daniel Brooks arrived at 9:00. He was in his early 50s, with a controlled manner and a habit of reading every page before asking a question. He placed a government notebook on the table, but did not open it immediately. "Judge Williams, before we begin, I need to establish the boundaries."
Maya nodded. "You are the victim of the stop and a potential witness. You will not direct this investigation. You will not contact department employees on our behalf. You will not request records through your judicial office."
"I understand." "If you find something, give it to Ms. Price. She can transfer it to us through the proper channel."
"That is acceptable." Brooks looked at Eleanor. "And the civil matter remains separate." "It does," Eleanor said.
Ruth opened her canvas bag and placed copies of the 19 files on the conference table. Brooks began with the towing records. By noon, he had requested checkpoint logs, dispatch records, storage invoices, auction documents, county contracts, internal emails, and all available camera footage.
The previous owners began arriving after lunch. Denise Porter came first. She wore a navy dress and carried a bakery box. "I did not want to arrive empty-handed," she said.
Inside were pecan bars and slices of pound cake. Eleanor thanked her and placed the box near the coffee. Denise explained that her delivery van had been stopped on Kingsley Boulevard 6 months earlier. The officer claimed the commercial registration required additional verification.
"The registration was current," Denise said. "I had the renewal receipt in the glove compartment." "What happened after the van was taken?" Brooks asked.
"They told me I could pay an expedited release fee. It was more than I had available that week." "How long did the county keep it?"
"23 days." Denise looked down at her hands. "I had orders for two retirement dinners, a church anniversary, and a family reunion. I lost all three. I had to let several people go because I could not make the deliveries."
"Were the workers members of your family?" Maya asked. "No. But they had been with me for years. One of them was 62 and planning to stay until retirement."
The county later dismissed the registration issue. Denise still received a storage bill. Marcus Bell arrived next. He wore work boots and a company shirt with an electrical contractor's logo. He had saved for 5 years to buy his Kawasaki Ninja.
"The officer said I could pay a processing fee and leave with the bike," Marcus explained. "He gave me a number, but it was not on any form." "Did he describe it as a county fee?" Brooks asked.
"He said it would keep the matter from becoming official." Marcus refused. The Kawasaki was taken to Kingsley Towing and later moved to another location. Every office he contacted sent him somewhere else.