"I said leave it intact." 92%. Mercer looked at Maya. She did not speak again.
96%. A diesel engine approached from the checkpoint. The upload reached 100%. The cloud symbol changed from yellow to green. Mercer lowered the baton.
A Kingsley Towing truck entered Kingsley Boulevard and drove directly toward the Ducati. No theft report number had been provided. No defect had been found in the registration, insurance, or vehicle identification number. Mercer had not finished the detention form.
The truck driver parked beside the motorcycle and stepped out with a clipboard. "This the one?"
Mercer looked at Hale. Hale checked his watch. "Yes. Take it in."
The driver shifted the clipboard against his chest, but Maya had already seen the top line. "Red V4, high value."
Mercer guided her toward the patrol car. She did not resist. As the rear door closed, Maya looked through the window at Ruth, who was still recording. Then she looked at the green cloud symbol on the Ducati's display. The county could take the motorcycle. It could not recover the recording that had already left it.
Mercer closed the rear door and walked back toward the Ducati. Through the patrol car window, Maya watched the tow driver lower the loading ramp and position the motorcycle for transport. The driver moved carefully around the bodywork, checking the fairings and wheels before securing the front tire.
Hale remained near the shoulder with his eyes on Ruth Alvarez. She had not lowered her phone. "You have recorded enough," Hale told her. "I'll decide when I have enough."
"This is an active county operation." "And I'm standing outside the traffic lane." Hale looked at the phone, then at Ruth. "The motorcycle is being held for verification. Do not publish incomplete information."
Ruth kept the camera pointed toward him. "Then give me the complete information. What is the theft report number?"
Hale did not answer. He turned toward Mercer instead. "Get her to the station."
Mercer glanced at the Ducati's display. The cloud icon remained green. He stepped close to the motorcycle and examined the area beneath the instrument panel. The tow driver noticed. "You want me to disconnect anything?"
"No," Hale said before Mercer could respond. "Transport it as it is." Mercer lowered his voice. "That footage is already out there."
"We handle that later." Maya could not hear every word through the closed patrol car door, but she saw Mercer's frustration. He looked toward Ruth again, then climbed into the passenger seat.
Officer Bennett took the driver's position. Hale returned to the command vehicle and left first. Bennett started the patrol car. Before pulling into traffic, he looked at Maya through the rearview mirror. "Seatbelt is on your right."