Mercer asked Walter to remain where he was.
Then he spoke to Officer Brooks.
“I understand you stopped Mr. Hayes because of suspected vehicle damage.”
Brooks nodded.
“Yes.”
“And you subsequently questioned him about a separate incident?”
“I was following up on information.”
“What information?”
Brooks hesitated.
Mercer waited.
The silence was uncomfortable.
Finally, Brooks said:
“We received a report connecting Mr. Hayes to an investigation.”
“What investigation?”
Brooks didn't answer.
Mercer looked at the second officer.
“Officer Reed?”
Reed returned from the patrol car.
“Yes?”
“Do you know why Mr. Hayes was stopped?”
Reed glanced at Brooks.
Then at Mercer.
“I was told it was a vehicle issue.”
Mercer nodded.
“Did you hear the conversation?”
“Part of it.”
“Did Officer Brooks request Mr. Hayes's phone?”
“Yes.”
“Did you hear why?”
Reed shook his head.
“No.”
Mercer looked at Brooks.
Then he pointed toward the car.
“The dashcam captured all of this?”
Walter answered.
“Yes.”
Mercer nodded.
“Then we have a record.”
Brooks stepped closer.
“Mr. Hayes hasn't been arrested.”
Mercer replied calmly:
“I know.”
“Then you have no authority to interfere with this traffic stop.”
Mercer looked at him.
“I am not interfering with a traffic stop.”
He paused.
“I am investigating conduct that may have occurred during one.”
Walter watched the exchange.
He suddenly understood that the little camera Emily had encouraged him to buy had changed the situation.
Without it, everything would have been one person's word against another.
With it, there was a timeline.
A record.
Evidence.
Mercer asked Walter:
“Do you still have the flash drive Samuel gave you?”
Walter froze.
Brooks looked at him.
And that single reaction told Mercer everything he needed to know.
Walter finally told them.
“Yes.”