Cole's mouth opened.
Nothing came out.
Daniel looked at the two officers.
“You just took two thousand dollars from me.”
Cole shook his head.
“No.”
“You did.”
“That was—”
“A bribe.”
Cole's breathing became heavier.
Daniel's voice remained almost gentle.
“You asked for it. You counted it. You pocketed it.”
He lifted his phone.
“And you did all of it while my recording equipment was running.”
Cole stared at him.
“You're lying.”
Daniel smiled faintly.
“No.”
He looked toward the police cruiser.
“And your dash camera isn't the only camera that recorded tonight.”
Ryan suddenly looked at Cole.
“You said this was routine.”
Cole didn't answer.
Daniel watched them silently.
Then he said the words that changed everything.
“Officer Cole, you're not the reason I'm here.”
Cole's face tightened.
“Then why?”
Daniel looked at Ryan.
“I'm here because someone inside your department has been selling police reports.”
Ryan's eyes widened.
Cole's expression froze.
Daniel continued.
“And now I know exactly where the money is going.”
CHAPTER 2 — THE MAN THEY THOUGHT THEY COULD BUY
Three hours later, Officer Derek Cole sat alone inside an interrogation room.
The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead.
His uniform jacket was hanging on the back of a chair.
His badge sat on the table.
His weapon was gone.
Across from him sat Daniel Mercer.
No handcuffs.
No shouting.
No threats.
Just silence.
Cole finally broke.
“You set me up.”
Daniel leaned back.
“You robbed yourself.”
“I didn't rob anyone.”
“You demanded money from a civilian.”
“You don't understand the situation.”
Daniel smiled.
“I understand it perfectly.”
Cole leaned forward.
“You walked into a traffic stop carrying two thousand dollars and expected me not to think something was wrong?”
Daniel said nothing.
Cole continued.
“You were driving an unregistered commercial truck through a restricted agricultural route.”
“I was.”
“You refused to explain where you were going.”
“I did.”
“And you had cash.”
“Yes.”
Cole spread his hands.
“That looks suspicious.”
Daniel nodded.
“You're right.”
Cole smiled.
For the first time, he thought he had found an opening.
“So maybe you understand why I asked for the money.”
Daniel looked directly into his eyes.
“No.”
The smile disappeared.
Daniel placed a folder on the table.
“Do you know how many complaints have been filed against you in the last eighteen months?”
Cole looked away.
“None that matter.”
“Seven.”
Daniel opened the folder.
“Three motorists claimed you demanded cash.”
Cole said nothing.
“Two claimed you threatened to impound their vehicles.”
Silence.
“One claimed you planted contraband in his truck.”
Cole's jaw tightened.
“And one disappeared before he could complete his complaint.”
Cole suddenly looked up.
“What does that mean?”
Daniel closed the folder.
“It means somebody scared him badly enough that he left the state.”
Cole stared.
“You can't prove that.”
“I don't need to prove everything tonight.”
Daniel stood.
“I only need enough.”
Cole watched him walk toward the door.
“Wait.”
Daniel stopped.
Cole's voice changed.
“You said you were investigating something bigger.”
Daniel turned.
“Who told you that?”
“No one.”
“Then how did you know?”
Cole hesitated.
Daniel's eyes narrowed.
That hesitation was enough.
“Who warned you?”
Cole said nothing.
Daniel walked out.
In the hallway, Ryan Miller was waiting.
His face was pale.
“I didn't know.”
Daniel stopped.
Ryan looked down.
“I swear I didn't know what Cole was doing.”
“I believe you.”
Ryan looked surprised.
“Why?”
“Because you looked uncomfortable before I ever revealed who I was.”
Ryan swallowed.