Malcolm stared.
“What people?”
Harlan immediately recognized the sentence he had created for himself.
He looked away.
“Lawyers.”
Malcolm waited.
Harlan added:
“Federal people.”
Malcolm nodded.
“Right.”
The phone rang.
Not Malcolm’s phone.
The desk phone beside the booking counter.
Harlan looked toward it.
Ruiz answered from the hallway.
Her eyes widened.
She covered the receiver.
“Sheriff.”
“What?”
“County Attorney Sullivan.”
Harlan swore quietly.
He walked away.
Malcolm remained by the wall phone.
He could hear only Harlan’s side.
“Yes.”
“No.”
“That is not what happened.”
“Because the identification appeared altered.”
“No, I didn't know who he was.”
“Of course not.”
“No one searched anything.”
A pause.
Harlan’s jaw tightened.
“What order?”
Another pause.
Malcolm watched the sheriff’s confidence drain in measurable increments.
Finally:
“Yes.”
“I understand.”
Harlan hung up.
Ruiz returned carrying Malcolm’s property bag.
“The tow was canceled.”
Malcolm nodded.
“Thank you.”
“Truck is still roadside.”
“Where?”
“Deputy Kane is sitting with it.”
“Has the briefcase been touched?”
Ruiz glanced toward Harlan.
“No inventory was done.”
Harlan said:
“Give him his things.”
Ruiz cut the property bag.
Wallet.
Phone.
Watch.
Keys.
Shoelaces.
Belt.
The torn license.
Malcolm held out his hand before Ruiz dropped the pieces loose.
“Evidence envelope, please.”
Harlan laughed sharply.
“You are unbelievable.”
Ruiz looked at him.
Then took a small paper evidence envelope from a drawer.
She placed both halves inside.
Wrote the date.
Time.
Property description.
Malcolm watched carefully.
“Can you initial the seal?”
She did.
“Thank you.”
Harlan said:
“You done?”
“No.”
Malcolm put on his watch.
“I need a copy of the property sheet.”
Ruiz handed it over.
“And arrest paperwork?”
Harlan said:
“There is no charge.”
“That doesn't mean there was no arrest.”
“You want me to charge you?”
“No.”
“I want you to describe what happened.”
Harlan stared.
“This is harassment.”
Malcolm almost smiled.
“No.”
“Documentation feels different when you're not used to being the subject.”
The front door opened.
Two men entered.
One wore a dark suit.
The other wore a U.S. Marshals Service windbreaker.