Mercer did not answer directly. "Don't interfere."
"I'm not interfering."
Maya turned her head slightly toward Ruth. "If you're recording, please don't edit it."
Ruth looked surprised. "I won't."
Mercer turned toward Maya. "Why are you worried about her video?"
"I'm not worried about it."
"Then why say anything?"
"Because I prefer things to remain exactly as they happened."
Mercer stared at her before turning back toward the Harley. He pointed at the broken headlight with his baton. "Look at this thing. It's barely worth hauling."
The tow driver glanced at him. "That's a Panhead."
"I know what it is."
"Then you know it's not cheap."
Mercer walked to the fuel tank and looked at the dent he had made. "Not in this condition."
Noah heard him from beside the cruiser. "That motorcycle is worth a lot more than a thousand dollars."
Mercer turned around. "Not anymore."
Maya looked directly at him. "So, your valuation changed because of its current condition?"
Mercer gave her an impatient look. "It's damaged."
"Damage you are documenting as having existed before the stop."
"Yes."
Maya paused. "And you believe the motorcycle is now worth less than one thousand dollars?"
Mercer looked at the tow driver, then back at her. "I think it's low-value salvage until ownership and identification are resolved."
Noah walked back toward them. "You cannot seriously call that low-value salvage."
Mercer pointed toward the motorcycle. "Look at it."
"I did. I also looked at it before you hit it."
Mercer ignored him and spoke to the tow driver. "Mark it low-value pending identification."
The driver hesitated. "That's what you want on the intake?"
"That's what I said."
Maya listened without interrupting. Ruth continued recording.
Mercer walked around the Harley once more, taking additional photographs only after the damage had been created. Noah watched him closely now. The sequence no longer looked like a normal inspection: the truck had been called early; the identification had checked out; Mercer had damaged the motorcycle, photographed the damage, and then described the vehicle as if it had arrived that way.
The tow driver reached for the leather saddlebag.
Maya's tone changed immediately. "Do not open that bag."
Mercer stopped and looked at her. It was the strongest reaction she had shown since the stop began. He turned toward the saddlebag, then he smiled.
"So that's what you're worried about."