Robert examined it carefully.
When he reached Daniel's name, he looked confused.
"Why are you on this list?"
"That's what I'm trying to find out."
Miller leaned forward.
"Thomas gave me this before he died. He said it was important. He told me not to open it unless something happened to him."
Daniel examined the paper.
There were small numbers written beside each name.
They appeared to be account references.
Robert recognized them immediately.
"These are banking identifiers."
Daniel looked up.
"Can you trace them?"
"Possibly. But we'll need the original account records."
Daniel opened his laptop.
He searched the federal database for the first number.
A result appeared.
The account belonged to a private company registered in Delaware.
Its listed director was Mayor William Preston.
The second account belonged to a consulting firm.
Its director was Margaret Collins.
The third belonged to Blackwood Security Solutions.
Daniel leaned back.
"This connects everyone."
Robert nodded.
"And the last number?"
Daniel entered it.
The result took longer.
A warning appeared on the screen.
RESTRICTED FEDERAL RECORD. AUTHORIZATION REQUIRED.
Daniel frowned.
He attempted to access it using his credentials.
ACCESS DENIED.
He tried again.
The same result.
"Someone has locked this file."
Robert leaned over his shoulder.
"Who controls that database?"
"Senior federal administrators."
"Could Collins have restricted it?"
"Yes."
Daniel looked at the list again.
His name was beside the final account number.
He wondered if it was a coincidence.
Then Miller spoke.
"There's something else Thomas told me."
Daniel turned.
"What?"
"He said that before he joined the sheriff's department, he worked as an informant for the FBI."
Daniel became still.
"An informant?"
"Yes. He was involved in a federal investigation involving financial corruption. He told me he had information about someone inside the Bureau."
Daniel looked at the recording device.
"Someone like Collins?"
Miller nodded.
"Maybe."
Robert walked toward the kitchen.
He returned with another envelope.
"I think this belongs to you."
Daniel opened it.
Inside was a letter addressed to him.
The handwriting was unfamiliar.
Agent Carter,
If you're reading this, Thomas Reed is probably dead, and you have finally discovered the truth about Blackwood. I have been following this operation for years. I know that you were selected for this assignment because of your previous work on federal corruption cases. But there is something you don't know about your own history.
Ten years ago, you investigated a financial network operating across three states. That investigation was closed after your partner, Agent Michael Lawson, disappeared. The same people responsible for that disappearance are connected to Blackwood.
Do not trust Director Collins. Find the original evidence.
Someone who knew Michael Lawson is still alive.
There was no signature.
Daniel read the letter twice.
Robert watched him.
"Who was Michael Lawson?"
Daniel slowly folded the paper.
"He was my partner."
The room became silent.
Ten years earlier, Daniel and Lawson had worked together on an investigation involving government contracts and organized crime.
Lawson had discovered evidence of money being transferred through private security companies.
Then he disappeared.
The Bureau claimed he had resigned and moved overseas.
Daniel had never believed that explanation.
He had spent months trying to locate him before being ordered to close the case.
Now, after ten years, the same names were appearing again.
Daniel looked at the letter.
"Thomas Reed knew about Lawson."
Robert nodded.
"Which means this operation started long before the sheriff's corruption became public."
Daniel picked up his phone and called Olivia Bennett, an agent he trusted from a previous internal investigation.
She answered after the second ring.
"Daniel?"
"I need your help."
"What happened?"
"I found evidence connecting Collins to a missing federal agent named Michael Lawson."
Olivia went silent.
Then she asked:
"Are you absolutely certain?"
Daniel frowned.
"Why?"
"Because Lawson's case was never closed."
Daniel stood up.
"What do you mean?"
Olivia lowered her voice.
"His personnel file was transferred to a classified internal archive three months ago. Someone requested access to it."
"Who?"
"Director Collins."
Daniel looked toward Robert.
"Send me everything you have."
"I will. But Daniel, there's something else."
"What?"
"Someone has been asking about you."
"Who?"
"I don't know. But they accessed your personnel file, your travel records, and your previous assignments."
Daniel looked at the letter again.
Someone had been studying his history.
And perhaps they had chosen him for this investigation for a reason.
Before he could ask another question, the call ended.
A message appeared.
UNKNOWN NUMBER: YOU SHOULD HAVE LEFT MICHAEL LAWSON IN THE PAST.
Daniel stared at the screen.
Then he looked toward the farmhouse window.
A vehicle was approaching along the gravel road.
Its headlights illuminated the trees.
Robert immediately reached for his weapon.
"Daniel, get away from the window."
The vehicle stopped.
A man stepped out.
He was holding a white envelope.
Daniel moved toward the door.
Robert grabbed his arm.
"Wait."
The man raised the envelope.
Then he shouted:
"Agent Carter! I have information about Michael Lawson!"
Daniel froze.
The man looked directly at him.
"My name is Edward Price. I worked with Lawson before he disappeared."
He slowly raised his hands.
"And I know who ordered his disappearance."
Edward Price was taken inside the farmhouse.
He appeared to be in his late fifties, with gray hair and a tired expression. His clothes were expensive, but his shoes were covered in mud.
Daniel placed the envelope on the table.
"Start talking."
Price looked around the room.
"Is this place secure?"
"Secure enough. Now tell me about Michael Lawson."
Price took a deep breath.
"Ten years ago, Lawson discovered that several federal contracts were being used to move money between government agencies and private security companies."
Daniel nodded.
"I know about the investigation."
"No, Agent. You know what they allowed you to see."
Price opened the envelope.
Inside were photographs of meetings, bank records, and a list of government officials.
"Lawson discovered that the companies were being used to fund illegal operations. People were being paid to suppress investigations, intimidate witnesses, and eliminate anyone who threatened the network."