"Am I booked?"
"No."
"Am I under official county detention?"
Mercer did not answer.
Maya nodded once. "Understood."
Mercer closed the door and locked it from the outside.
Noah stared at the key in his hand. "You just locked a federal agent in a private office with no arrest record."
Mercer put the key in his pocket. "Boone will handle it."
Noah looked through the small glass panel in the door. Maya had not sat down. She was looking past them toward the warehouse.
Outside, the Harley was being rolled off the flatbed. Beyond it, under fluorescent lights, more vintage vehicles could be seen inside the building. Noah followed Maya's line of sight; he counted at least six.
"Wade," he said quietly, "how many vehicles come through this place?"
Mercer did not answer.
A pair of headlights appeared beyond the front gate. A dark county SUV entered the yard and moved toward the office.
Mercer looked outside. "Boone is here."
Noah watched the SUV stop beside the building. For the first time since the roadside stop began, Mercer seemed relieved.
Clay Boone entered the office without greeting anyone. He was 56, broad-shouldered, dressed in a county uniform with his jacket still on. He looked at Mercer first, then at Noah. But he did not ask about Maya.
"Where is the motorcycle?"
Mercer pointed toward the warehouse. Boone walked past them.
The Harley stood under fluorescent lights near the loading area. The tow driver had already lowered it from the flatbed. Boone moved around the motorcycle slowly and examined the damaged engine case, the broken headlight, and the dented fuel tank. He stopped beside the engine.
"This is where the identification is?"
Mercer nodded. "It came back questionable."
Noah spoke from behind them. "It came back valid twice before Wade hit the engine case."
Boone looked at Noah, then back at Mercer. "You hit it?"
Mercer hesitated. "I needed to inspect the number."
"That is not what he did," Noah said.
Boone raised one hand. "I did not ask you." Noah went quiet. Boone looked at the headlight next. "You do this, too?"
Mercer nodded.
"And the tank?"
"Yes."
Boone turned toward him. "Before or after you knew who she was?"
Mercer looked uncertain. "Before."
Boone nodded once. "Good."
Mercer frowned. "Good?"