One of them began crying.
The other asked:
"Are they coming back?"
Daniel looked directly at him.
"Not if I can help it."
They moved to the final room.
A man was sitting on the floor with his back against the wall.
He slowly raised his head.
Daniel stopped breathing.
"Michael?"
The man stared at him.
For several seconds, he seemed unable to recognize the person standing in the doorway.
Then his eyes widened.
"Daniel?"
Daniel stepped closer.
"It's me."
Lawson stood slowly.
His face showed years of exhaustion.
His voice trembled.
"I thought you were dead."
Daniel shook his head.
"I thought the same about you."
The two men stood in silence.
Then Lawson grabbed Daniel's shoulder.
"How did you find me?"
"Thomas Reed."
Lawson's expression changed.
"Thomas?"
Daniel nodded.
"He died trying to expose this operation."
Lawson looked down.
For a moment, he could not speak.
Then he whispered:
"Then they finally killed him."
Daniel looked at him.
"Tell me everything."
Lawson shook his head.
"Not here."
"Why?"
"Because Collins isn't the only person involved."
Daniel frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Lawson approached the door and looked into the corridor.
Then he spoke quietly.
"There's someone above her. Someone who has been controlling this network since before Blackwood existed."
Daniel felt his stomach tighten.
"Who?"
Before Lawson could answer, the facility alarm suddenly sounded.
Red warning lights began flashing.
A loudspeaker announced:
UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS DETECTED. ALL SECURITY PERSONNEL REPORT TO THE LOWER LEVEL.
Lawson grabbed Daniel's arm.
"You have to get me out of here!"
Robert appeared at the end of the corridor.
"We have a problem!"
Daniel turned.
"What?"
Robert pointed toward the staircase.
Sheriff Richard Hayes was standing there.
Beside him was Victor Kane.
And behind them stood a woman in a dark suit.
Margaret Collins.
The FBI director looked directly at Daniel.
Then she smiled.
"Agent Carter. I've been waiting for you."
Daniel stepped in front of Lawson.
Collins glanced toward the former agent.
"Michael. It's been a long time."
Lawson's face became pale.
"Stay away from me."
Collins smiled.
"You should be grateful. We could have left you in that room forever."
Daniel raised his badge.
"Margaret Collins, you're under investigation for kidnapping, conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and the unlawful detention of federal personnel."
Collins laughed.
"Investigation? Daniel, you still don't understand."
She slowly removed a document from her briefcase.
Then she held it up.
"Your entire investigation was authorized by someone above me."
Daniel stared at the document.
Collins continued.
"And that person has already approved your arrest."
Daniel looked toward Hayes.
The sheriff was smiling.
Then Collins delivered the final blow.
"Welcome to the real investigation, Agent Carter."
The red emergency lights continued flashing throughout the industrial complex.
Daniel Carter stood in the middle of the corridor, positioning himself between Michael Lawson and the three people blocking the exit.
Sheriff Richard Hayes looked unusually confident.
Victor Kane stood beside him, holding a weapon.
And Margaret Collins, the woman who had spent years building a reputation as one of the most respected officials in the FBI, looked almost amused.
"Put your weapon down, Daniel," Collins ordered.
Daniel did not move.
"You're under investigation. I suggest you put yours down first."
Collins laughed softly.
"Still pretending that your badge protects you?"
"My badge doesn't protect me. The law protects me."
Hayes shook his head.
"That's a beautiful speech. Unfortunately, nobody here cares."
Michael Lawson stepped forward.
"Richard, you should have left this alone."
The sheriff turned toward him.
"Look who's still alive."
Lawson's expression hardened.
"You kept me locked away for ten years."
"Because you couldn't keep your mouth shut."
Daniel glanced at Lawson.
"Michael, what does he mean?"
Lawson took a breath.
"Ten years ago, I discovered that Collins was using federal intelligence contracts to finance a private criminal organization. Hayes was responsible for protecting its operations at the local level."
Collins interrupted.
"That's enough."
"No," Lawson replied. "It's time people heard the truth."
He looked directly at Daniel.
"There was a man named Senator Jonathan Whitmore. He was the real architect behind the network."
Daniel frowned.
"The senator?"
Lawson nodded.
"He controlled the funding, arranged political protection, and made sure investigations never reached the people responsible. Collins handled the federal side. Hayes controlled Blackwood. Kane handled the people who needed to disappear."
Daniel looked toward Collins.
"Is that true?"
She remained silent.
Hayes suddenly laughed.
"You really think exposing a senator will change anything? You have no idea how far this operation reaches."
Daniel slowly raised his badge.
"Then perhaps it's time we found out."
Collins took a step forward.
"Daniel, listen to me. You still have an opportunity to walk away. Give me the recorder, surrender Lawson, and I'll make sure your career is restored."
Daniel stared at her.
"You destroyed my partner's life. You tried to frame me. You ordered witnesses to disappear. And now you're offering me my job back?"
"I'm offering you a future."
Daniel shook his head.
"I don't want a future built on lies."
Collins's smile disappeared.
She turned toward Kane.
"Take the evidence."
Kane stepped forward.
But before he could reach Daniel, the sound of approaching sirens echoed outside the building.
Everyone turned.
Red and blue lights appeared through the broken windows.
Daniel looked at Collins.
"Looks like your time is up."
The director frowned.
"Those aren't my people."
"No," Daniel replied. "They're not."
He had secretly transmitted the location of the industrial complex and the copied evidence to an independent federal prosecutor before entering the detention area.
The prosecutor had finally obtained emergency authorization from a separate judicial district.
Federal agents were now approaching.
Collins looked toward the exit.
Kane immediately grabbed her arm.
"We need to leave."
Hayes pulled out his phone.
"Call the county department. Tell them to block the road."
Collins turned sharply.
"Don't be stupid. The sheriff's department is already under investigation."
Hayes glared at her.
"You promised me protection."
"And you promised to keep Carter away from the evidence."