Judge Whitmore's voice became dangerously calm.
“Officer Lawson, I am giving you one opportunity to explain.”
“I was told Captain Harlan might come to the courthouse.”
“By whom?”
“My supervisor.”
“Your supervisor is Captain Harlan.”
Lawson looked toward Cole.
Cole was staring at the security footage.
The supervisor spoke again.
“There's something else, Your Honor.”
“What?”
“The vehicle left through the east gate at 8:49.”
“Was the license plate visible?”
“Yes.”
“Do we have the registration?”
The supervisor nodded.
“It's registered to a private security company.”
Victoria looked at the screen.
“Which company?”
The supervisor zoomed in on the vehicle's side panel.
A small logo was visible.
A stylized silver shield.
Underneath it were the words:
Sentinel Protective Services.
Victoria felt the pieces connect.
Sentinel Civic Solutions had a second company.
A security company.
A company that had no obvious reason to operate inside a courthouse.
She turned toward the judge.
“Your Honor, I believe the company connected to the missing equipment contract is also being used to move witnesses.”
Cole stood.
“This is speculation.”
Victoria looked at him.
“Then explain why your office approved a security contract with the same company.”
Cole's face went blank.
Judge Whitmore looked at him.
“Mr. Cole?”
He sat down slowly.
Victoria continued.
“The security company was incorporated three months after the original Sentinel contract. Its registered address is the same building as Gregory Shaw's company. The two businesses share a financial administrator.”
“Who is the administrator?” the judge asked.
“Your prosecutor's former campaign treasurer.”
Cole's eyes widened.
The judge looked down at the documents.
“Mr. Cole, I suggest you stop speaking until you have legal counsel.”
For the first time that morning, Nathan Cole looked less like a prosecutor and more like a man who had realized he might be the next person called to testify.
Chapter 14 — The Officer's Choice
Lawson's radio crackled.
He reached toward it.
“Don't,” Judge Whitmore said.
Lawson froze.
The radio crackled again.
A voice came through.
“Unit twelve, report status. Do you have the subject?”
Lawson looked at the judge.
“Unit twelve, respond.”
No one spoke.
The voice became more impatient.
“Derek, respond. Is Bennett secured?”
Victoria looked at the radio.
The voice was familiar.
Captain Harlan.
Lawson slowly removed the radio from his belt.
He placed it on the table.
Judge Whitmore instructed the security supervisor to secure the device.
“Officer Lawson, you are not being asked to make a statement about the contents of that communication at this moment. But you are required to remain available to answer questions.”
Lawson nodded.
His face had changed.
The arrogance was gone.
He looked exhausted.
Victoria watched him carefully.
“You knew they were going to take me downstairs.”
Lawson said nothing.
“You knew they wanted the phone.”
“I was following orders.”
“Who told you to arrest me?”
He glanced at Cole.
“Captain Harlan.”
“Who told you to bring me here?”
“The captain.”
“Who told you to take me downstairs during recess?”
Lawson hesitated.
“Captain Harlan.”
Victoria leaned closer.
“And what were you supposed to do with me?”
Lawson's eyes moved toward the judge.
“I don't know.”
“Don't lie now.”
“I don't know!”
His voice echoed across the courtroom.
Judge Whitmore raised her hand.
“Officer Lawson, lower your voice.”
He took a breath.
“They told me to secure the phone and bring you to the lower-level interview room.”
“Who is they?”
“The captain. Someone from the prosecutor's office.”
Cole stood abruptly.
“That's a lie.”
Lawson turned toward him.
“You told me it was authorized.”
“I never spoke to you.”
“You called me.”
“I did not.”
Lawson stared at him.
“You told me she was dangerous.”
Cole's expression hardened.
“Be careful.”
The words hung in the air.
Victoria looked at the judge.
“Your Honor, that sounds like an attempt to influence a witness.”
Judge Whitmore nodded.
“I heard it.”
Cole stepped back.
Lawson looked at the floor.
Then, in a much quieter voice, he said:
“I have the messages.”
Victoria turned toward him.
“What messages?”
“The captain's instructions.”
“Where?”
“On my personal phone.”
“Do you still have it?”
Lawson nodded.
“It's in my locker.”
The judge looked at the security supervisor.
“Arrange for the phone to be preserved through the appropriate legal process. No one is to access or alter it.”
Lawson swallowed.
“Your Honor?”
“Yes?”
“I need protection.”
The judge studied him.
“Protection from whom?”
Lawson looked toward the courtroom doors.
“From the people who told me to do this.”
Victoria's expression did not soften.