“Arthur didn’t own the stilts, and he didn’t own the mud pans.”

Brenda took the yellow release form, checked the serial numbers against her master inventory ledger, and snapped it into the front pocket of the lead evidence folder.

“That turns a simple wage dispute into a documented conversion of private property,” Brenda said, pressing a red tab firmly onto the folder spine.

“The board treats that as a willful violation under section four of the labor code.”

Martha leaned back in her chair, her soft voice clear in the quiet room.