I did not convince Deputy Cole to develop a conscience.

I helped build a case large enough that his conscience became irrelevant, that even his cowardice pointed toward the truth.

That is how the powerful are actually brought down, far more often than by heroism: not by converting their accomplices into good people, but by making the truth the safer bet, until the rats, being rats, do the sensible thing and flee the ship.

It is not inspiring.