He came closer.
“Do you?”
“What are you going to do about it?”
That answer confused him.
Sarah continued.
“You are making your own record.”
Then, suddenly, slapped her across the side of the face.
The booking room froze.
It was not a wild punch.
Not enough to knock her down.
A sharp open-handed slap intended to humiliate.
Sarah’s head turned with the impact.
For one second, nobody moved.
Toby stared.
The booking deputy stood.
“Sheriff!”
Boyd pointed at Sarah.
“Stop mouthing off.”
Sarah slowly turned her face back toward him.
Her cheek burned.
Her eyes did not.
“Did your camera capture that?”
Boyd looked at his chest.
The camera was active.
His expression flickered.
Then hardened.
“You stepped toward me.”
“You were aggressive.”
He shoved her backward.
Sarah struck the edge of a metal chair.
She caught herself.
Toby moved forward.
“Enough.”
Boyd spun.
“What did you say?”
“I said enough.”
The room became very quiet.
Boyd took two steps toward Toby.
The younger deputy did not move.
Sarah watched.
This was no longer simply about her.
Boyd’s authority depended on everyone else accepting his version of events.
Toby was beginning to refuse.
Boyd pointed toward the rear corridor.
“Go inventory her car.”
The booking deputy looked between them.
Boyd stared at Toby.
“You want to repeat that?”
“She’s booked.”
“Her property’s here.”
“There’s no reason to search the vehicle without inventory authorization.”
“I authorized it.”
“For what?”
Boyd shoved Toby again.
Harder this time.
Toby hit the edge of the counter.
The dispatcher stood.
Sarah stepped forward instinctively.
Boyd turned and kicked the leg of the metal chair into her path.
The chair slid sideways and struck Sarah’s shin.
She stumbled.
Toby snapped.
“Stop touching her!”
Boyd looked almost pleased.
“Now you want to protect prisoners?”
“She’s not resisting.”
“She has been disrespectful since the stop.”
“That’s not illegal.”
Boyd crossed the distance between them.
“You finished?”
Toby breathed heavily.
Boyd’s face changed.
Toby continued.
“I’m not helping you invent charges.”
The booking deputy whispered:
“Jesus.”
Boyd pointed toward the front door.
“Badge.”
“Put it on the desk.”
“You can't fire me in the middle of—”
Toby looked at Sarah.
Then at his sheriff.
He removed his badge.
Placed it carefully on the counter.
“Now get out.”
Toby stood there.
The front desk phone rang.
Everyone looked toward it.
Ordinary line.
The dispatcher answered.
“Oak Haven Sheriff’s Office.”
Sarah glanced at the wall clock.
2:14.
Sixteen minutes until the secure call.
Boyd pointed to the holding corridor.
“Put her in interview two.”
The booking deputy hesitated.
Boyd shouted:
“Now!”
Sarah walked voluntarily.
Interview Room Two was barely larger than a storage closet.
Gray walls.