Hayes is becoming a problem. Make sure the highway operation happens before she reaches the original evidence.
Victoria stared at the screen.
She slowly looked up.
"They planned the stop."
Grant nodded.
"They knew you'd be driving that route."
Victoria's expression became cold.
"And Collins?"
"Was supposed to confiscate your identification and hold you long enough for them to search your vehicle."
"Why?"
Grant looked at her.
"Because they believed you were carrying the original evidence."
Victoria closed the folder.
"But I wasn't."
Grant shook her head.
"No."
Victoria looked toward the door.
"Then what were they really looking for?"
Grant didn't answer immediately.
Then she whispered:
"Your source."
Victoria understood.
Porter.
They hadn't been trying to stop her.
They had been trying to find the person who had given her the evidence.
Suddenly, Marcus's voice came through the door.
"Victoria!"
She turned.
"What's wrong?"
"We have movement outside."
Victoria immediately looked toward Grant.
"Did you tell anyone you were coming here?"
Grant shook her head.
"No."
Marcus opened the door.
"Two vehicles just entered the parking garage."
Victoria gathered the documents.
"Let's move."
But before they reached the hallway, the lights went out.
Darkness swallowed the room.
Then came a loud metallic impact.
The door slammed shut.
Someone had locked it from the outside.
Grant gasped.
"Victoria!"
Victoria reached for her phone.
No signal.
Marcus struck the door with his shoulder.
It didn't move.
Then a voice came through the darkness.
"Agent Hayes."
Victoria froze.
She recognized the voice.
Alan Pierce.
"Open the door," she demanded.
Pierce laughed softly.
"You're making this unnecessarily difficult."
Victoria approached the door.
"You're finished, Alan."
"Am I?"
"You just confirmed your involvement in an active investigation."
Another laugh.
"Victoria, you still think this is about evidence."
She stopped.
"What is it about?"
Pierce answered:
"It's about who controls the evidence."
A brief pause followed.
Then he said:
"And who controls the people who are supposed to protect it."
Victoria looked toward Marcus.
She understood that the situation had become much bigger than she had imagined.
Pierce continued.
"You should have accepted the transfer."
Victoria's expression hardened.
"Never."
The lights suddenly returned.
The door opened.
But nobody stood outside.
Only a small black envelope had been left on the floor.
Victoria picked it up.
Inside was a photograph.
This time, it showed Lieutenant Porter.
He was sitting in a chair.
His hands were tied.
Behind him stood Chief Coleman.
On the back was another message.
BRING THE ORIGINAL FILES. COME ALONE.
Victoria looked at Grant.
Then at Marcus.
The choice was obvious.
They had to find Porter before the people behind the operation made him disappear permanently.
CHAPTER 9 — THE PRICE OF SILENCE
At 3:32 a.m., Victoria sat in the passenger seat of an unmarked vehicle.
Marcus was driving.
Director Grant sat in the back, holding the briefcase.
Nobody spoke for several minutes.
Finally, Marcus broke the silence.
"We're not actually going to follow their instructions, are we?"
Victoria looked through the windshield.
"No."
"Good."
She turned toward him.
"But we're going to let them think we are."
Marcus nodded slowly.
"What about the original files?"
Victoria looked at Grant.
"Do we have copies?"
Grant nodded.
"Three encrypted copies."
"Where?"
"One is with our legal team. One is stored in a secure federal archive. The third is with me."
Victoria nodded.
"Good."
Marcus glanced at the rearview mirror.
"Then what's the plan?"
Victoria opened her phone.
"First, we find Porter."
She looked at Grant.
"Do you know where Coleman would take him?"
Grant hesitated.
"There's an old police training facility outside the city."
"Why there?"
"Because it was scheduled for demolition. It's been closed for nearly a year."
Victoria studied the map.
"Send me the address."
Grant did.
Victoria examined the location.
It was an isolated facility surrounded by warehouses and industrial roads.
A perfect place to hide someone.
Marcus looked concerned.
"Could be dangerous."
Victoria nodded.
"Yes."
"Then we should request a larger team."
"We will."
She paused.
"But first, I want to know something."
"What?"
"Why did Coleman personally appear at the evidence facility?"
Grant thought for a moment.
"Maybe he wanted to supervise the transfer."
Victoria shook her head.
"No."
She enlarged the photograph of Porter.