"Sergeant Walker."
Victoria opened the folder.
"Go ahead."
Collins looked uncomfortable.
"He told me to locate your vehicle."
"Why?"
"He said you were carrying something that belonged to the department."
Victoria watched him.
"What exactly did he tell you?"
Collins swallowed.
"He said there was a woman driving a black sedan. He told me to stop her, search the vehicle, and bring back whatever I found."
"Did he tell you to confiscate my badge?"
Collins shook his head.
"No."
"Did he tell you to use force?"
"No."
"Did he tell you to lie to dispatch?"
Collins hesitated.
Victoria looked at him.
"Officer?"
He lowered his eyes.
"Yes."
Victoria wrote something down.
"Why did you agree?"
Collins remained silent for a long time.
Then he spoke.
"Because Walker told me it was an internal operation."
Victoria nodded.
"And you believed him."
"Yes."
"Why?"
Collins looked up.
"Because he'd been my supervisor for years."
Victoria closed the folder.
"That's not an answer."
Collins looked down again.
Finally, he said:
"Because I wanted to be promoted."
Victoria remained silent.
He continued.
"Walker told me that if I cooperated, he'd recommend me for a special assignment. I thought it was an opportunity."
"And when you found my badge?"
Collins gave a nervous laugh.
"I thought it was fake."
"Why?"
"Because I didn't expect someone like you to be involved."
Victoria tilted her head.
"Someone like me?"
Collins hesitated.
"You know what I mean."
"No, Officer. Explain it."
He looked uncomfortable.
"I thought you were just another driver trying to act important."
Victoria studied him.
"Because I was a woman?"
He didn't answer.
"Because I wasn't wearing a uniform?"
Still nothing.
"Because you thought someone who looked ordinary couldn't have more authority than you?"
Collins looked away.
Victoria nodded slowly.
"That's an interesting way to approach your profession."
Collins leaned forward.
"I know I made mistakes."
Victoria looked at him.
"Several."
"I know."
"You violated procedures."
"Yes."
"You failed to verify information."
"Yes."
"You confiscated credentials without proper justification."
He nodded.
"And you lied."
Collins closed his eyes.
"Yes."
Victoria sat quietly for several seconds.
Then she said:
"Officer Collins, I don't need you to tell me you're sorry."
He looked up.
"What do you need?"
"The truth."
She opened the folder again.
"Every name. Every instruction. Every payment. Every time Walker asked you to do something outside normal procedure."
Collins looked frightened.
"What happens if I cooperate?"
Victoria answered honestly.
"That depends on the evidence and the decisions made by the appropriate authorities."
He stared at her.
Then slowly nodded.
"I'll tell you everything."
Victoria closed the folder.
"Good."
She stood.
As she reached the door, Collins spoke again.
"Agent Hayes?"
She turned.
"Yes?"
"Can I ask you something?"
"Go ahead."
"Why didn't you tell me who you were from the beginning?"
Victoria looked at him.
"Would it have changed what you did?"
Collins didn't answer.
She continued.
"Because if the only reason you respect someone's rights is that they carry a powerful badge, then you haven't understood the job."
Collins lowered his head.
Victoria opened the door.
"And that's something you need to think about."
CHAPTER 13 — THE NAME ABOVE THE CHIEF
Three days later, the investigation expanded.
The financial records revealed that Northbridge Security Solutions had received more than $8 million through a series of government contracts.
Some of the contracts were legitimate.
Others were not.
The money had been distributed through several shell companies.
Payments had gone to police officers, private contractors, and individuals connected to the city administration.
But the biggest discovery came from an encrypted storage device recovered from Porter's apartment.
It contained a list.
Twenty-seven names.
Each name was connected to a payment.
Beside each name was a code.
Victoria studied the list in her office.
Marcus stood nearby.
"That's the complete network?"
"Maybe."
"Maybe?"
She pointed to the final name.
"Who is this?"
Marcus looked.
E. RICHARDSON.
He checked the records.
"Former Deputy Commissioner."
Victoria shook her head.
"No."
"What?"
She pointed to the payment code.
"This isn't a former deputy commissioner."
Marcus looked again.
Then he understood.
"You're saying it's someone currently holding office?"
Victoria nodded.
He searched the database.
A photograph appeared.
A distinguished-looking man in his late fifties.
Senator Edward Richardson.