Cole's expression tightened.
“I have no personal relationship with that individual.”
Victoria removed a printed document.
“Your office's former campaign treasurer worked for Northbridge Advisory Group before joining Sentinel Protective Services as a financial consultant.”
“That proves nothing.”
“It proves the connection exists.”
Judge Whitmore looked at the document.
“Mr. Cole, you are beginning to look less like a prosecutor protecting an investigation and more like someone attempting to protect himself.”
Cole stood.
“I will not sit here and be accused without an opportunity to respond.”
“You have had several opportunities.”
“I want counsel.”
“You may have counsel.”
“And I want this proceeding suspended.”
Judge Whitmore considered him.
“Your request is denied for now. The court will continue with the preservation of evidence and the protection of witnesses.”
Cole gathered his papers.
This time, the judge stopped him.
“Leave them.”
He stared at her.
“Your Honor—”
“Leave them.”
Slowly, he placed the papers back on the table.
Victoria watched his hands.
They were shaking.
Chapter 18 — The Name on the Photograph
Victoria returned to the photograph of Gregory Shaw and Captain Harlan.
She enlarged the image.
At first, she had focused on the two men.
Now she noticed a third figure reflected in the glass entrance behind them.
A man standing several feet away.
His face was partially visible.
Victoria leaned closer.
“Can you enhance this area?”
The security technician examined the image.
“I can improve the contrast, but I can't guarantee facial detail that isn't present in the original.”
“Try.”
He adjusted the image.
The reflected figure became clearer.
Victoria recognized the shape of the face.
She had seen it before.
Not in the Sentinel files.
Not in the department's records.
In the courthouse.
She looked toward Marcus Reed, the veteran security officer who had recognized her earlier.
He had remained near the back of the courtroom.
“Marcus.”
He stepped forward.
“Yes, ma'am?”
“Do you recognize this man?”
Marcus looked at the photograph.
His face changed almost immediately.
He looked away.
Victoria noticed.
“Marcus?”
“I don't know.”
“You recognized him.”
“I said I don't know.”
Judge Whitmore looked at him.
“Mr. Reed, please come forward.”
Marcus approached the bench.
The judge held out the photograph.
“Have you seen this individual before?”
Marcus studied it.
Then he looked at Victoria.
“Not recently.”
Victoria's expression hardened.
“What does that mean?”
Marcus took a breath.
“He used to work here.”
“Who?”
“His name was Thomas Vance.”
“Was he a security officer?”
“Not officially.”
“What was his position?”
Marcus glanced toward the courtroom doors.
“He worked for courthouse administration.”
“What happened to him?”
Marcus hesitated.
“He disappeared.”
Victoria felt the room become colder.
“When?”
“About eighteen months ago.”
The same period when the Sentinel warehouse supposedly closed.
“Was he involved in the equipment contract?”
“I don't know.”
“Did he have access to the courthouse security systems?”
Marcus nodded.
“He helped install the original surveillance network.”
Victoria looked at the photograph again.
The reflection was no longer an incidental detail.
It was a connection.
Thomas Vance had worked inside the courthouse.
He had been present when Harlan and Shaw met.
He had disappeared around the time the original warehouse closed.
And someone had recently used Sentinel Protective Services to interfere with the courthouse's security system.
Victoria looked at Marcus.
“Why didn't you mention him earlier?”
Marcus's face tightened.
“Because I was told not to.”
“By whom?”
He looked toward Cole.
Then toward Lawson.
Finally, he looked at the judge.
“By someone who said he was acting on behalf of the court.”
Judge Whitmore's expression became very still.
“Who?”
Marcus swallowed.
“Deputy Court Administrator Richard Bell.”
Victoria wrote the name down.
“Where is he now?”
Marcus's answer was barely audible.
“On the administrative floor.”
Judge Whitmore turned to the security supervisor.
“Find Mr. Bell. Bring him here.”
The supervisor nodded.
But before he could leave, Marcus spoke again.
“Your Honor?”
“Yes, Mr. Reed?”
“I don't think he's alone.”
The judge looked at him.
“What do you mean?”
Marcus turned toward the courtroom doors.
“I think someone inside this building has been helping them.”
At that exact moment, the lights flickered.
Once.
Twice.
Then the courtroom went dark.
End of this installment.
The additional 10,000-word expansion is continuing in installments. The next section will pick up immediately after the courtroom blackout, with Richard Bell's disappearance, the discovery of what Room 214 contains, and the first evidence that the corruption reaches beyond Captain Harlan and Nathan Cole.