The judge looked toward Keller.

"Officer, did you activate your body camera?"

Keller's expression hardened.

"I believed I did."

"Believed?"

"There may have been a malfunction."

Judge Lawson closed the file.

"Then before this court does anything else, somebody is going to determine whether that recording exists."

Keller looked at Simone.

For the first time that morning, she saw uncertainty in his face.

Because Simone knew something he didn't.

His body camera wasn't the only camera that had recorded their encounter.

And the second recording was already somewhere Keller could never erase.

CHAPTER 2 — THE NIGHT BEFORE

Twenty hours earlier, Simone had finished work at 8:40 p.m.

She managed safety training for a regional hospital network outside Richmond. Her work wasn't glamorous. Most days involved teaching employees how to respond when frightened or aggressive patients became physically unpredictable.

Her philosophy was simple.

Create distance.

Stay calm.

Escape if possible.

Use force only when necessary.

That evening she had taught a three-hour workshop before driving home.

The flashing lights appeared ten minutes later.

Simone pulled into a well-lit gas station.

Officer Keller approached.

"License."

Simone handed it over.

"Registration?"

She retrieved it.

"What was the reason for the stop?"

Keller looked at her.

"Improper lane change."

Simone thought back.

She had changed lanes once.

Signal on.

Clear road.

Nothing unusual.

Still, she said, "Okay."

Keller returned to his cruiser.

Nine minutes later he came back.

"Step outside."

"May I ask why?"

"Step outside."