Rebecca's expression changed. "What did they tell you on that call?"
Mercer looked toward the hallway leading to interview room two. "They asked for Maya Williams."
Rebecca said nothing.
Mercer continued, "By name."
Ben's eyes moved toward the interview room.
Rebecca asked, "Who called?"
Mercer did not answer her immediately. "Stay here."
He walked down the hallway and stopped outside interview room two. Through the narrow window, Maya was still seated at the table. She had not moved the chair and had not touched anything in the room. Mercer opened the door.
Maya looked up. "Miss Williams?"
"Chief Mercer."
The fact that she knew him made him pause. "You know who I am?"
"Yes."
Mercer entered and closed the door behind him, leaving it unlocked. "I just received a call concerning you."
Maya waited.
"Federal Bureau of Investigation, Charlotte Field Office."
Her expression did not change. "They want you placed on a secure line."
"Then you should do that."
Mercer pulled out the chair across from her but remained standing. "Before I do, I need to understand what happened downstairs."
"You have cameras."
"I'm asking you."
Maya nodded once. "Your officer scanned my credential. It returned verified. Lieutenant Sloan asked for information outside the access instructions. I directed her to the validation procedure. She ordered the verification screen closed, attempted to seize my secured case, destroyed my credential, and detained me."
Mercer said, "She believed you might be attempting unauthorized access."
"That was a reasonable question before the verification. And after, she had two ways to resolve it. She used neither."
Mercer studied her. "Why didn't you simply tell her you were FBI?"
"Because I was not authorized to disclose the agency unless operational conditions required it."
"You could have prevented this."
Maya looked directly at him. "Your lieutenant could have prevented it by following the procedure on her screen."
Mercer sat down. "What exactly are you doing in Asheford?"