Vance had signed the official affidavit himself, asking for my county network access to be suspended immediately and for a full disciplinary review of my employment record.

“He’s trying to get your clerk credentials pulled before the end of the week,” Pete said quietly.

“My county computer access was officially shut off three weeks ago when I transferred,” I said.

“Does Vance know that?”

“He hasn’t checked the state judicial roster,” I said.

“He stapled a copy of your thirty-four-thousand-dollar county salary record to the front of the file,” Pete said, shaking his head.

“He told the clerk you were using county resources to extort a prominent local family.”