At the sheriff's office, Noah discovered the same thing in a different form. A new internal draft had appeared in the case folder. This version described him as the deputy responsible for confirming the vehicle identification and communicating the result to Mercer. That part was true. The next sentence was not: it said Noah had reported uncertainty about the database return.
He read it again. Then he kept going. The report stated that Mercer acted after receiving conflicting information from his junior deputy.
Noah stood up and went directly to Boone's office. Boone was not there. He found another sergeant at the desk.
"Who added this?"
The sergeant looked at the page. "I don't know."
"It says I gave Mercer conflicting information."
"Did you?"
"No."
"Then talk to Boone."
"I'm trying to."
The sergeant shrugged. "That's all I can tell you."
Noah took a photo of the draft with his phone. He understood what Boone was doing: if investigators proved Mercer had damaged the engine case after a valid return, Boone could claim the confusion began with Noah; Mercer would say he relied on field information; Boone would say he relied on Mercer. Noah would become the easiest person to blame because he had the least power.
He left the building and sat in his car. For several minutes, he did nothing. Then he called the number Laura Chen had left with him through an intermediary earlier that night.
She answered quickly. "Noah Alvarez?"
"Yes."
"Are you somewhere you can speak privately?"
"I'm in my car."
"Go ahead."
Noah looked through the windshield at the dark sheriff's office. "Maya Williams is being held at a private tow yard."
Laura's voice remained controlled. "Name?"
"Hensley Recovery and Storage."
"Address?"
He gave it.
"Are you certain she is still there?"
"She was when I left."
"Is there an official booking?"
"No."
"Arrest record?"
"No."
"Was she free to leave?"
"No."
Laura paused briefly. "What about the motorcycle?"