Bennett hesitated. "Kingsley Towing has people who watch motorcycle groups, auction pages, dealership events, and public posts. Some vehicles are reported by repair shops or transport drivers. Your Ducati was listed with a Saturday route through Monroe County."
Maya remembered checking the route online two nights before the trip. She had searched road conditions and fuel stops. She had not posted publicly, but Daniel had once shared photographs of the Ducati through an owner's group that remained active after his death. "Did the list identify me by name?"
"I only saw the motorcycle description and the route. It said the owner lived outside the county." "And the towing truck?" "Kingsley gets notice before certain stops. That is why the truck was already close."
"Where are the vehicles taken?" "Most go to the public lot first. The ones with higher values are sometimes transferred." "To where?"
"I have heard people call it the old mill warehouse." "Do you know the location?" "No. I have never been there."
Maya let the silence settle before asking the next question. "Will you speak with Special Agent Daniel Brooks?" Bennett answered immediately. "No."
"Then why tell me?" "Because somebody needs to know." "Knowing is not enough if you refuse to put your name behind it." "I understand that."
"Do you?"
His voice became tighter. "My mother is 78. She needs daily medication, transportation to appointments, and help at home. My insurance covers most of it. If Hale fires me, I lose the income and the coverage."
"That does not make the operation lawful." "I did not say it did." "It explains your fear. It does not remove your responsibility."
"I know." Maya heard no anger in his answer, only exhaustion. Bennett continued. "Hale helped me keep my position 2 years ago when I needed extended leave to care for her. He reminds me of that whenever I question anything."
"Then he is using an act of help as permanent control." "Yes." "Loyalty does not require you to protect a lie." Bennett gave a short, humorless breath. "Loyalty is easy to define when someone else is paying the cost."
Maya accepted the criticism. "You are right. The cost is yours, but the property belongs to other people, and they are paying, too." He did not respond.
"I will not ask you to remove records," Maya said. "Do not copy files to a personal device. Do not alter anything. Do not access a system you are not authorized to use."
"Then what can I do?" "Preserve what you are already permitted to see. If you can lawfully photograph the screen without changing or removing anything, send the image to Eleanor Price. She will transfer it to Brooks."
"Why not send it to you?" "Because I am a witness. I will not become the custodian of evidence in an investigation connected to my own case." Bennett was quiet again. "You really will not use your position."