"How long ago?"
"Approximately fifteen minutes."
Daniel slowly removed his gaze from the captain.
"That's not a coincidence."
Hayes lowered the radio.
"What are you talking about?"
Daniel looked toward the distant police headquarters.
"The evidence they couldn't find was never supposed to disappear."
Hayes stared at him.
"Then where is it?"
Daniel reached inside the inner pocket of his suit jacket.
Mitchell immediately reacted.
"Hands! Let me see your hands!"
Daniel stopped.
"Relax. I'm retrieving my identification."
He slowly pulled out a black leather identification wallet.
Inside was a federal badge.
Hayes stared at it.
His expression changed completely.
"You're federal?"
Daniel opened the wallet just long enough for the captain to see the credentials.
"Special Investigations Division."
Mitchell's eyes widened.
"Wait... you're not a local detective?"
Daniel closed the wallet.
"Not exactly."
Hayes looked almost physically uncomfortable.
"Why wasn't I informed?"
Daniel gave him a cold look.
"That's precisely the question we're trying to answer."
A phone began vibrating inside Daniel's jacket.
He looked at the screen.
Unknown number.
He answered.
"Cross."
A distorted male voice came through.
"Detective, you need to stop."
Daniel's expression remained neutral.
"Who is this?"
"You know exactly who this is."
Daniel glanced toward Hayes.
"Then you know I'm recording this conversation."
The voice laughed.
"Recording won't help you."
"Why not?"
"Because by the time anyone listens to it, you'll be the one under investigation."