That is exactly why it cannot stay here. If it disappears, the first person they look at is me. Boone lowered his voice. They are already looking at you. Mercer looked toward Maya.
She was watching both men. He turned back to Boone. You changed the report. You moved her twice. You moved the Harley twice.
Every decision after the roadside stop came from you. Boone stepped closer. And every problem before that came from you. Mercer did not respond. Boone continued.
You opened the saddlebag. You found her credentials. You damaged the motorcycle. You arrested her. Do not stand here pretending I created this situation.
You knew exactly what to do when I called. That does not make me responsible for what you did before the call. Maya spoke from the desk. He is right about one thing. Both men looked at her.
Boone said, Stay out of this. Maya ignored him. Every transfer after the roadside stop creates another decision someone has to explain. Mercer looked toward the Harley. Maya continued.
Hensley was one decision. This warehouse is another. Moving it again will be a third. Boone said, You think repeating that makes it evidence? I did not say it was evidence.
Mercer studied her face. You are not worried about the motorcycle anymore. Maya looked at him. At the roadside, you watched every mark I made. She did not respond.
You kept checking the time. You wanted that woman to preserve her video. You remembered every word I said. Boone interrupted. Wade, stop.
Mercer ignored him. Then we moved the bike to Hensley. And you stayed calm. Now we move it again. And you are still calm.
Maya said, would you prefer I panic? I would prefer you tell me why you are not. She remained silent. Mercer walked out of the office and went directly to the Harley. Boone followed.
What are you doing? Mercer began examining the motorcycle more carefully than he had at the roadside. He checked beneath the seat, around the frame, near the battery area, and along the underside of the saddlebag mount. Boone grabbed his arm. Leave it alone.
Mercer pulled away. There is something on this bike. You already searched it. I searched the bag and found enough. Mercer looked back toward Maya.
She could see him through the open office door. He walked around the motorcycle again. This whole time she has acted like she knows exactly what we are going to do. Boone shook his head. You are getting paranoid.
Maybe. Mercer crouched near the rear of the Harley and checked underneath the fender. He found nothing. He stood and looked at Maya. What is on this motorcycle?
Maya remained seated. Mercer walked back to the office. What did you put in it? She held his gaze. Boone stepped in behind him. "
Enough." We move it before dawn. Mercer did not look away from Maya. There is something else on that bike. Maya said nothing.
Her silence was enough to keep him looking at the Harley. Boone ordered the warehouse workers out of the loading area and closed the main door behind them. Only he, Mercer, Maya, and one towing contractor remained inside. The contractor stayed near a desk at the far end of the building and avoided looking at anyone. Mercer stood beside the Harley with his arms crossed.
I want to know why we are moving it again. Boone looked at him. Because the first location is compromised. That is your answer for everything now. It is the correct answer.
No. The correct answer is that Noah talked. Boone said nothing. Mercer walked closer. You knew he was going to turn.
I knew he was nervous. And you still let him leave. You were the one working beside him all afternoon. Mercer gave a short laugh. So that is mine, too?
Boone lowered his voice. You created the roadside problem. I have been trying to contain it. Maya listened from the office doorway. One of her wrists remained cuffed to the metal fixture beside the desk.
But Boone had left the door open so he could keep her in sight. Mercer pointed toward the Harley. You keep saying I created the problem. Who told us what kind of vehicles to look for? Boone looked toward the towing contractor.
Careful. Mercer continued. Who told us what paperwork mattered? Who explained how to hold a vehicle long enough for fees to build? Wade.
Who taught us how to get the value down before disposal? Boone stepped closer. Stop talking. Maya spoke calmly. He is asking reasonable questions.
Boone turned toward her. Stay out of this. Maya did not stop. Deputy Mercer seems concerned that he is carrying the visible part of the operation. Mercer looked at Boone.
Maya continued. The roadside contact is in his name. The damage is tied to him. The initial seizure decision is tied to him. Boone said.
You do not know what you are talking about. Then correct me. He did not answer. Maya looked at Mercer. Which one of you decided the identification had to become unreadable.
Boone immediately said, "Nobody decided that." Mercer looked at him. Maya waited. Boone added, "If he struck the wrong place, that was his decision." Mercer's expression changed. "
My decision?" Boone realized what he had said. Mercer stepped toward him. "You told me we needed a seizure basis. I told you to verify the vehicle.
You told me to make sure it could not be cleared roadside." Boone's voice hardened. "I never told you to hit the number." Mercer pointed toward the Harley. "You said if the identification could not be verified, we had grounds to hold it.
I did not tell you how to create that condition." Maya watched them. The argument had changed. Neither man was denying the system anymore. They were arguing over who had designed each part of it.
Maya asked, "What about the headlight?" Boone turned toward her. "" Enough."" She kept her attention on Mercer. "The identification damage gave you a reason to seize the motorcycle.
What did breaking the headlight accomplish?" Mercer hesitated. Boone spoke quickly. "Do not answer her." Mercer looked at him. "
Why not?" "Because she is trying to get you to talk. She already knows. You do not know what she knows." Maya remained silent.
Mercer looked at the damaged headlight. "It affected the condition rating." Boone stepped closer. "Wait. Shut up."
Maya asked, "And the fuel tank?" Mercer looked at Boone again. Boone's expression told him not to answer. Mercer did anyway. "Same reason."
Boone cursed under his breath. Maya said, "So the damage reduced the reported value." Mercer replied, "That was the point." Boone grabbed the edge of a nearby work table. "You are making this worse."
Mercer turned on him. "No. You are trying to make me the only person responsible. I am trying to stop you from saying things that cannot be taken back. You already changed the report.
I corrected it. You removed yourself. My name was never on the roadside stop because you made sure it was not. Boone looked toward the towing contractor. The man lowered his eyes and pretended to review paperwork.
Mercer noticed. You hear all this? He asked. The contractor raised both hands. I do not want any part of your argument.
Mercer walked toward him. You have been part of it for years. Boone stepped between them. Leave him out of this. Mercer laughed.
Now you want to protect him? I want you to stop creating witnesses. Maya spoke again. How many vehicles went through this warehouse? Boone turned toward her.
None of your business. Mercer answered before Boone could stop him. "Enough." Boone stared at him. Maya asked, More than Hensley?
Mercer said nothing. Boone said, She is fishing. Maya looked at him. Then do not give me anything. That only made Mercer more suspicious.
He turned back toward Boone. How many of the auction buyers were yours? Boone's face tightened. Do not do this. How many?
I said stop. You keep telling me to stop because you know I can prove you were involved. Boone stepped forward. And I can prove you were the one standing beside every vehicle when the problem started. Mercer pointed toward him.
You approved the transfers. You initiated the seizures. You set the thresholds. You signed the roadside reports. You controlled disposal.
You damaged the property. Neither man noticed that Maya had stopped asking questions. She no longer needed to. They were doing the work themselves. The towing contractor quietly moved away from the desk and slipped several papers into a folder.
Mercer saw him. What are those? Nothing. Give them to me. The contractor held the folder against his chest.