The moment that name was mentioned, something changed.
The sheriff's jaw tightened.
Deputy Miller lowered his eyes.
Daniel noticed both reactions.
"Something wrong, Sheriff?"
Hayes quickly recovered.
"Thomas Reed died in a traffic accident. That case was closed months ago."
"According to your department."
"According to the evidence."
Daniel opened another folder.
"Then perhaps you can explain why the vehicle's original accident report doesn't match the forensic examination."
Hayes remained silent.
"Or why the medical examiner documented injuries that occurred before the vehicle left the road."
The sheriff's face became increasingly red.
"You need to watch what you're saying."
Daniel closed the folder.
"I've been watching this case for six months. And every time I follow the evidence, it leads back to your department."
Hayes suddenly stepped forward.
"You're accusing my officers of murder?"
"I'm telling you that someone is lying."
Before Hayes could respond, Daniel's phone vibrated.
He pulled it out.
An unknown number had sent a message.
YOU NEED TO LEAVE BLACKWOOD BEFORE SUNSET.
Daniel stared at the screen.
Another message arrived.
THE SHERIFF IS NOT YOUR BIGGEST PROBLEM.
He slowly looked up.
Across the street, a dark SUV was parked near the entrance to a convenience store. Its windows were heavily tinted.
Daniel watched it for several seconds.
Then its headlights turned on.
The vehicle drove away.
Hayes noticed Daniel's distraction.
"What is it?"
"Nothing you need to worry about."
The sheriff smiled coldly.
"That's where you're wrong, Agent. Everything that happens in this county is my concern."
Daniel picked up his briefcase.
"Then I suggest you start paying attention."
He turned toward the hospital.
But before he could enter, Deputy Miller approached him quietly.
"Agent Carter."
Daniel stopped.
"What?"
Miller glanced toward Hayes.
Then he lowered his voice.
"Thomas Reed didn't die in an accident."
Daniel looked at him carefully.
"Do you have proof?"
Miller swallowed.
"I might."
"Then why haven't you reported it?"
The deputy looked toward the sheriff again.
His voice became barely audible.
"Because the man who killed him is still wearing a badge."
Suddenly, a loud crash echoed from inside the hospital.
A woman screamed.
Several employees rushed toward the emergency entrance.
Daniel immediately ran inside.
The patient he had been assigned to protect, a former county accountant named James Holloway, had disappeared from his hospital room.
The window was broken.
The security camera had been destroyed.
And on the bed lay a small piece of paper.
Daniel picked it up.
There were only six words written on it.
STOP DIGGING, OR YOU'RE NEXT.
Daniel slowly folded the paper.
He had come to Blackwood expecting resistance.
He had expected corruption.
But he had not expected someone to begin eliminating witnesses while he was still standing in the hospital parking lot.
Outside, Sheriff Hayes watched the FBI agent through the glass doors.
A few seconds later, he took out his phone.
"He's here," Hayes said quietly.
The person on the other end asked a question.
Hayes looked toward Daniel.
Then he answered.
"Yes. Carter has the evidence."
There was a pause.
"Then we have a problem," the voice replied.
Hayes tightened his grip on the phone.
"Don't worry. I'll handle him."
But the voice responded with a warning that made the sheriff's expression disappear.
"Richard, you don't understand. Carter wasn't supposed to find the original files."
The call ended.
For the first time that afternoon, Sheriff Hayes looked genuinely frightened.
Because somewhere inside that briefcase was a document that could destroy his entire career.
And possibly his life.
The hospital corridor was filled with confusion.
Nurses hurried between rooms while security officers attempted to control the growing crowd. An elderly patient was being moved away from the emergency entrance, and two paramedics were speaking with a visibly shaken hospital administrator.
Special Agent Daniel Carter stood outside James Holloway's room, carefully examining the broken window.
He had seen this kind of operation before.
The person responsible had not entered randomly. Whoever took Holloway knew the hospital's security procedures, understood the building layout, and knew exactly when the patient would be alone.
This was not an ordinary kidnapping.
It was a carefully planned extraction.
Daniel turned toward the hospital administrator.
"How many people had access to this patient's room?"
The administrator, a middle-aged woman named Patricia Lewis, nervously adjusted her glasses.
"Only authorized medical staff and security personnel."
"Names."
"I'll have to check the records."
"Do that immediately."
Sheriff Hayes entered the corridor with two deputies.
"What happened?"
Daniel turned toward him.
"Your witness has disappeared."
Hayes looked at the broken window.
"That's unfortunate."
Daniel studied his face.
"Unfortunate?"
"What would you like me to say?"
"I'd like you to explain how someone managed to remove a federal witness from a secured hospital room without triggering an alarm."
Hayes folded his arms.
"Perhaps your security arrangements weren't as good as you thought."
Daniel stepped closer.
"James Holloway was placed here under federal protection. His location was confidential. Only a limited number of people knew he was in this building."
"Then perhaps you should investigate those people."
"I intend to."
Hayes nodded toward the room.
"Good. And while you're doing that, remember that this is a local police investigation now."
Daniel slowly shook his head.
"No, Sheriff. It isn't."
He removed the federal warrant from his briefcase.
"You're looking at an active federal investigation involving witness intimidation, kidnapping, obstruction of justice, and potential conspiracy."
Hayes glanced at the document.
"You can't just take over every investigation in this county."
Daniel held the paperwork toward him.
"I'm not taking over anything. I'm exercising lawful federal authority."
One of the deputies standing behind Hayes shifted uncomfortably.
Daniel noticed.
"What's your name, Deputy?"
The officer hesitated.
"James Miller, sir."
Daniel nodded.
"Deputy Miller, I want you to tell me exactly what happened before the patient disappeared."
Hayes immediately interrupted.
"My deputies will answer questions through my office."
Daniel did not look away from Miller.
"Did you hear that?"
Miller nodded.
"Yes, sir."