“Officer, did you know Ms. Carter before April seventeenth?”
“No.”
“Had you ever encountered her professionally?”
“No.”
“Had you ever seen her name in a federal investigative report?”
Whitmore hesitated.
“No.”
The prosecutor looked toward Judge Hayes.
“Your Honor, I request permission to ask the witness about a document previously identified in the court's sealed submission.”
Whitmore's expression changed.
Judge Hayes looked at him for a long moment.
“Granted.”
Marcus Bell approached the witness stand.
“Officer Whitmore, I'm showing you a document marked Exhibit F-17. Do you recognize it?”
Whitmore looked down.
His face went completely white.
“No.”
“Are you certain?”
“Yes.”
Marcus held up the document.
“It is an email dated August twelfth, three years ago. It was sent from Deputy Chief Raymond Haskell to several individuals, including you.”
Whitmore swallowed.
“I don't remember.”
“Would you like me to read it?”
“No.”
Marcus looked at the judge.
“Your Honor, the prosecution requests that the relevant portion be read into the record.”
Judge Hayes nodded.
Marcus began reading.
“‘The auditor identified several irregularities in the public safety grant. Her name is Camille Renee Carter. All personnel should refrain from contacting her directly. Any communication concerning the audit must be coordinated through the designated federal liaison.’”
The courtroom became still.
Marcus continued.
“‘Officer Whitmore has access to several procurement records and should preserve all related documentation until further notice.’”
Whitmore stared at the floor.
Marcus lowered the document.
“Officer, you received this email?”
“I don't recall.”
“Your address is listed as a recipient.”
“I don't recall reading it.”
“You are saying that you received an email identifying Camille Carter as a federal auditor, instructing you to preserve records, and warning personnel not to contact her, but you do not remember it?”
Whitmore's voice became sharper.
“I receive hundreds of emails.”
Marcus nodded.
“Then perhaps you will remember this one.”
He placed another document before him.
It was a message dated April sixteenth, the day before Camille's arrest.
The message had been sent from Whitmore to Deputy Chief Haskell.
Marcus read it aloud.
“‘I saw Carter's name in the system again. She's back in Riverton. We need to know what she kept.’”
A woman in the back row gasped.
Whitmore closed his eyes.
Marcus continued.
“‘If she still has the records, we have a problem.’”
The prosecutor paused.
“Officer Whitmore, did you send this message?”
Whitmore looked toward his attorney.
Judge Hayes leaned forward.
“Answer the question.”
“I don't remember.”
Marcus held up the final page.
“This message was recovered from a department server. It includes your digital signature.”
Whitmore's lawyer stood.
“Objection. The document has not been authenticated.”
Judge Hayes looked at him.
“The court has reviewed the authentication materials in the sealed submission. The objection is noted and overruled.”
The lawyer sat down.
Marcus returned to the witness stand.
“Officer Whitmore, did you know Camille Carter was connected to the federal investigation?”
Whitmore's face was expressionless.
“No.”
“Then why did you write that she was back in Riverton?”
“I don't remember.”
“Why did you say that you needed to know what she kept?”
“I don't know.”
“Why did you say her records were a problem?”
Whitmore said nothing.
Marcus stepped away.
“Your Honor, the witness has repeatedly denied knowledge of documents that bear his signature. The prosecution requests permission to call Officer Miller.”
Judge Hayes nodded.
Miller took the stand.
He looked nervous, but he raised his right hand and swore to tell the truth.
Marcus asked him about the traffic stop.
Miller described how Whitmore had ordered Camille out of her vehicle despite knowing that she did not match the suspect description.
He described the force used during the arrest.
He described the derogatory language.
And he described the instructions he had received to alter the incident report.
When asked whether Whitmore had mentioned Camille's name before the stop, Miller hesitated.
Then he answered.
“Yes.”