She had investigated internal complaints before.
And she knew that traffic stops could become complicated when officers failed to communicate clearly.
She approached Crowley.
“Deputy, explain the situation.”
Crowley straightened.
“Captain, we stopped a vehicle with suspected fraudulent registration.”
Elaine looked toward Simone.
“Has the registration been verified?”
Crowley hesitated.
“Dispatch confirmed it was valid.”
“Then why is the vehicle still detained?”
Crowley said nothing.
Noah stepped forward.
“Captain, may I speak with you privately?”
Crowley turned sharply.
“Noah.”
Elaine raised a hand.
“Deputy Bennett, come with me.”
They walked several feet away.
Noah took a slow breath.
Then he explained everything.
The demand for four thousand dollars.
The threat to impound the car.
The valid registration.
The order to disable the camera.
And the mysterious magnetic device found beneath the rear bumper.
Elaine listened carefully.
When Noah finished, she looked toward Crowley.
Her expression had changed.
“Are you certain?”
Noah nodded.
“Yes, Captain.”
Elaine took a breath.
“Thank you for reporting it.”
Then she returned to Simone.
“Ma’am, I’m Captain Elaine Foster. I’m going to review what happened.”
Simone nodded.
“I appreciate that.”
Elaine looked toward the Mercedes.
“Is there a recording?”
“Yes.”
“Would you be willing to preserve it for investigators?”
“Absolutely.”
The captain nodded.
Then she turned toward Crowley.
“Deputy, step away from the vehicle.”
The older man’s confidence vanished.
Chapter 8: The Woman Who Had Been Investigating Them
Elaine asked Simone to explain why her vehicle had a rear recording system.
Simone answered calmly.
“I own Whitaker Executive Mobility. We operate luxury transportation vehicles throughout several states.”
Elaine nodded.
“I’m familiar with the company.”
Simone continued.
“Several of our drivers have reported questionable traffic stops in this region.”
The captain’s expression tightened.
“What kind of stops?”
“Allegations of registration fraud followed by demands for large cash payments.”
Elaine looked toward Crowley.
Simone continued.
“Some vehicles were impounded after the drivers refused to pay.”
The captain became very still.
“Do you have documentation?”
“Yes. My company has been working with legal counsel to review the incidents.”
Elaine nodded.
“Please provide the information through the appropriate investigative process.”
Simone looked toward the rookie deputy.
“He noticed the camera and preserved a photograph of the device behind my car.”
Elaine turned toward Noah.
“Good work.”
The young deputy looked relieved.
But the captain’s expression remained serious.
She knew the allegations could not be resolved on the roadside.
The evidence needed to be collected.
The records needed to be examined.
And any possible connection between traffic stops and towing companies required independent investigation.
She turned toward Crowley.
“Deputy, you’re being relieved from duty pending review.”
Crowley stared.
“Captain, you can’t be serious.”
Elaine remained calm.
“We’ll determine what happened through the appropriate process.”
The older deputy looked toward the rookie.
Then toward Simone.
And finally toward the small camera beneath the Mercedes.
The device had recorded the encounter.
But the real danger to Crowley was not the camera itself.
It was what the recording might prove.
