"And a federal prosecutor."
Walker's expression collapsed.
Victoria continued.
"Along with the original transaction records, all body-camera footage, the dispatch logs, and the access history for your department's evidence room."
Walker stared at her.
"You're making this impossible."
Victoria looked at him coldly.
"No, Sergeant."
She paused.
"You're making it impossible."
A loud voice came from behind them.
"Sergeant Walker!"
Collins had returned.
He was holding his phone.
Walker turned.
"What?"
Collins approached quickly.
"We have a problem."
Walker looked irritated.
"What problem?"
Collins showed him the screen.
Walker read the message.
His face changed immediately.
Victoria watched.
"What's wrong?"
Walker locked the phone.
"Nothing."
Victoria raised an eyebrow.
"That didn't look like nothing."
Walker turned toward Collins.
"Get back in the vehicle."
"But—"
"NOW!"
Collins obeyed.
Victoria looked at Walker.
"Who sent the message?"
"No one."
"Sergeant, I can see your hands shaking."
Walker clenched his fists.
"You're enjoying this too much."
Victoria shook her head.
"Not at all."
Then her phone vibrated.
She looked down.
An encrypted message had arrived.
OPERATION NIGHTFALL — COMPROMISED.
She opened it.
The message contained a photograph.
A police evidence storage room.
A metal cabinet.
And a man standing beside it.
Victoria recognized him immediately.
Lieutenant James Porter.
The officer who had been helping her team investigate the missing funds.
She read the message beneath the photograph.
PORTER HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED. DO NOT CONTACT HIM.
Victoria's expression became serious.
For the first time that night, the investigation had taken an unexpected turn.
Someone had discovered the identity of her inside source.
And someone was trying to stop the investigation before it reached the people responsible.
She looked up.
Walker was watching her.
"What happened?"
Victoria locked the phone.
"Nothing you need to worry about."
Walker gave a nervous laugh.
"Good."
But she noticed something else.
His eyes had moved toward the black sedan.
Specifically, toward the passenger-side door.
Victoria slowly turned her head.
A small red light was blinking beneath the vehicle.
She immediately understood.
A tracking device.
Someone had placed it there.
Possibly before the traffic stop.
Possibly much earlier.
She looked back at Walker.
"Sergeant, how long has Officer Collins been assigned to this highway?"
Walker frowned.
"Why?"
"Just answer."
"Three years."
"And you?"
"Seven."
Victoria nodded.
"Then perhaps you can help me understand something."
"What?"
"Why did someone place a tracking device beneath my vehicle?"
Walker went completely still.
He tried to hide his reaction.
But it was too late.
Victoria had seen it.
She took out her phone and photographed the device from a distance.
Walker stepped forward.
"Agent, don't touch that."
She looked at him.
"Why not?"
"Could be dangerous."
Victoria gave him a cold smile.
"That's what I'm beginning to think."
CHAPTER 4 — THE WOMAN WHO DIDN'T BACK DOWN
At 12:19 a.m., another vehicle arrived.
This time, it wasn't a patrol car.
It was a dark gray SUV with tinted windows.
It stopped several feet behind Walker's vehicle.
A woman stepped out.
She was in her early fifties, wearing a charcoal business suit and a long black coat. Her silver hair was neatly styled, and she carried a leather briefcase.
Victoria recognized her.
Deputy Director Eleanor Grant.
Her direct supervisor.
The woman walked toward the scene.
"Victoria."
Victoria turned.
"Director."
Grant looked at the police vehicles.
Then at Walker.
Then at Collins.
"What happened?"
Victoria answered directly.
"I was stopped by Officer Collins. During the stop, he confiscated my credentials, changed the stated reason for the stop, and attempted to prevent me from contacting my office."
Grant's expression hardened.
"Did he?"
"Yes."
Grant turned toward Collins.
"Officer, step forward."
Collins approached reluctantly.
"Ma'am?"
"Do you understand who this woman is?"
He swallowed.
"Yes, ma'am."
"Then why was she detained?"
"I believed her identification might be fraudulent."
Grant looked at him.
"You believed a federal badge was fraudulent?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"And what steps did you take to verify it?"
Collins hesitated.
"I contacted my supervisor."
Grant looked at Walker.
"Did you verify her credentials?"
Walker cleared his throat.
"Not independently."
Grant's expression became colder.
"Then you had no reason to continue holding her identification."
Walker didn't respond.
Grant turned back toward Collins.
"Give me your badge number."
Collins looked confused.
"Ma'am?"
"Your badge number."