Grant took a sharp breath.
"Then it's worse than I thought."
Victoria frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Grant hesitated.
Then she said something Victoria wasn't expecting.
"Richard Coleman wasn't the person who created the operation."
"Who was?"
Grant whispered:
"Someone inside the federal government."
Victoria went completely still.
"Give me a name."
"I can't."
"Why?"
"Because I don't know who is listening."
Victoria looked toward Marcus.
"Director, we need to meet."
"Not at headquarters."
"Where?"
Grant hesitated.
"There's an old federal building on West Adams Street. Basement level. Room 17."
Victoria wrote down the location.
"How long?"
"Thirty minutes."
The call ended.
Marcus looked at her.
"Are you going?"
Victoria put on her jacket.
"Yes."
"That's a trap."
"Possibly."
"Then why walk into it?"
Victoria looked at the photograph of Collins.
"Because whoever arranged that traffic stop made one mistake."
"What mistake?"
Victoria opened the original file.
"They assumed I would be too concerned about protecting myself to continue investigating."
She looked at Marcus.
"They were wrong."
CHAPTER 8 — ROOM 17
The old federal building was nearly empty.
Its corridors were dimly lit, and the elevator made a grinding sound as it descended toward the basement.
Victoria stepped out.
Marcus followed.
The air smelled of dust and old paper.
They walked past several storage rooms before reaching Room 17.
The door was slightly open.
Victoria knocked twice.
No answer.
She pushed it open.
The room was empty.
A single chair stood beside a metal table.
On the table was a manila envelope.
Victoria approached.
Marcus remained near the door.
She opened the envelope.
Inside was a photograph.
It showed Director Grant standing outside a courthouse.
Beside her was Chief Coleman.
Behind them stood a third man.
A man Victoria recognized immediately.
Deputy Director Alan Pierce.
Her own superior.
She stared at the photograph.
Marcus stepped closer.
"That's Pierce."
Victoria nodded.
"Yes."
"He's the one who approved the operation?"
"Apparently."
She examined the back of the photograph.
A handwritten message appeared.
THE PERSON YOU TRUST IS THE PERSON WHO OPENED THE DOOR.
Marcus looked toward her.
"Do you think Grant sent this?"
Victoria didn't answer.
A faint noise came from the hallway.
Both agents turned.
Footsteps.
Someone was approaching.
Marcus reached for his radio.
Victoria raised one hand.
"Wait."
The footsteps stopped outside the room.
Then a familiar voice spoke.
"Victoria?"
Director Grant.
Victoria turned toward the door.
"Come in."
Grant stepped inside.
She looked frightened.
Her normally confident expression was gone.
"Did you bring anyone?"
Victoria nodded toward Marcus.
"He's with me."
Grant looked at him.
"Can we speak privately?"
Marcus immediately stepped into the hallway.
Victoria closed the door.
"What's happening?"
Grant placed her briefcase on the table.
"Alan Pierce is involved."
Victoria looked at the photograph.
"I know."
Grant shook her head.
"No. You don't understand how involved."
She opened the briefcase and removed several documents.
"Pierce authorized the transfer of the federal funds. He arranged the shell companies. He approved the false internal reports."
Victoria examined the documents.
"Why?"
"Because Whitmore was financing a private security operation."
"What kind of operation?"
Grant lowered her voice.
"An operation designed to control access to police contracts, government information, and confidential investigations."
Victoria frowned.
"That doesn't explain the missing money."
Grant looked directly at her.
"The money was being used to pay officers to provide information."
Victoria slowly looked up.
"Information about what?"
"Federal investigations. Witnesses. Evidence. Arrest warrants. Anything that could threaten Whitmore's business interests."
Victoria's expression hardened.
"How many officers?"
Grant hesitated.
"At least twenty."
Victoria stared at her.
"Twenty?"
"Possibly more."
Victoria placed the documents on the table.
"Why didn't you tell me this earlier?"
Grant looked down.
"Because I was afraid."
Victoria remained silent.
Grant continued.
"Three months ago, I attempted to report Pierce. Two days later, my office was searched. My computer was wiped. My assistant resigned."
"Why didn't you contact me?"
"I didn't know who I could trust."
Victoria looked at the documents.
Then at Grant.
"Do you have proof?"
Grant opened another folder.
Inside were bank records, payment schedules, and copies of confidential messages.
Victoria began reading.
One message caught her attention.
It was dated three days earlier.
The sender was Alan Pierce.
The recipient was Chief Coleman.
The message read: