But Byron gave him a small nod.

A gesture so subtle that nobody else noticed.

Russell understood.

Thank you.

The next few minutes felt endless.

Byron remained beside the squad car.

Patricia continued talking.

The crowd continued watching.

Then Byron placed his phone against his ear.

“Ray.”

He paused.

“I'm at Grand Lakeshore.”

Another pause.

“I need you here.”

Byron's attorney was also one of his oldest friends.

Raymond Ellis had known Byron since college.

He knew his temperament.

He knew that Byron never dramatized anything.

So when Byron explained what had happened, Raymond did not ask unnecessary questions.

“I'm coming.”

“Bring the acquisition documents.”

There was silence.

Then Raymond understood.

“All of them?”

“Yes.”

“I'll be there in fifteen minutes.”

Byron ended the call.

Patricia noticed the calmness in his face.

That bothered her.

He should have been nervous.

He should have been apologizing.

Instead, he looked almost patient.

Officer Nolan approached again.

“Who did you call?”

“My attorney.”

“Why?”

Byron looked at him.

“Because you are holding my identification, detaining me without charges, and treating me like a criminal after confirming that the car belongs to me.”

Nolan's face hardened.

“You're not detained.”

“Then return my documents.”

The officer said nothing.

Byron waited.

The documents remained in Nolan's hand.

Officer Caldwell watched.

Patricia watched.

Russell watched.

And somewhere in the distance, a car turned onto the long driveway leading toward Grand Lakeshore Country Club.

It was a black sedan.

Inside was Raymond Ellis.

And in the leather portfolio beside him were documents capable of changing everyone's understanding of the man standing beside the Rolls-Royce.

Patricia Davenport had always believed that confidence came from knowing who you were.

She had never considered the possibility that sometimes confidence came from not knowing anything at all.

As Byron waited, Patricia whispered to her friends.

“He called a lawyer.”

One of them looked nervous.

“Maybe we should go.”

“Why?”

“Because something feels strange.”

Patricia dismissed her.

“There's nothing strange about it. If the car belongs to him, the police will confirm it.”

But even as she said the words, doubt began creeping into her mind.

Byron did not behave like someone caught doing something wrong.

He was not panicking.

He was not bargaining.

He was not demanding to leave.

He was simply waiting.

Officer Nolan continued asking questions.

“Where did you purchase the vehicle?”

“Chicago.”

“From which dealership?”

“North Shore Motor Group.”

“How long have you owned it?”

“Six months.”

Nolan wrote down the answers.

Patricia felt relieved.

See? An investigation.

A proper investigation.

Then Raymond Ellis arrived.

The black sedan rolled slowly into the parking area.

A tall man stepped out wearing a charcoal suit and carrying a leather portfolio.

He did not look around.

He did not search for directions.

He walked directly toward Byron.

“Are you all right?”

“I'm fine.”

Raymond nodded.

Then turned toward the officers.

“My name is Raymond Ellis. I represent Mr. Fletcher.”

Officer Nolan folded his arms.

“What's this about?”

Raymond opened the portfolio.

“Everything you need.”

The first document was the vehicle title.

Registered owner: Byron A. Fletcher.

The second was the purchase record.

The third contained corporate information for Titan Crest Holdings.

Nolan looked impatient.

“What does this have to do with the vehicle?”

Raymond placed another document on the hood of the squad car.

“This is an ownership structure.”

He pointed to a name.

Byron A. Fletcher.

Then another.

Titan Crest Holdings.

Then another.

Lakeshore Hospitality Group.

Officer Caldwell stepped closer.

Raymond continued.

“Titan Crest Holdings owns a controlling interest in Lakeshore Hospitality Group.”

Patricia frowned.

She knew Lakeshore Hospitality Group.

She worked there.

Her husband worked there.

It was the parent company that managed Grand Lakeshore.

She looked at Byron.

Then at Raymond.

Raymond turned another page.

“This is the current executive organizational chart.”

Two names had been highlighted.

Patricia Davenport.

Vice President of Operations.

Stuart Davenport.

Chief Financial Officer.

Patricia's mouth went dry.

Raymond looked toward Officer Nolan.