Jack's phone vibrated inside his jacket.
A message from his federal team appeared on the screen.
"Multiple department communications indicate your location has been compromised. Do not disclose investigative details to local personnel until the response team arrives."
Jack read the message twice.
His suspicions were becoming difficult to ignore.
Someone had known he would be walking through Westbridge that evening. Someone had sent Daniel to find him. And someone had mobilized several police units before the circumstances of the encounter had even been established.
This was no longer simply a case of one officer abusing his authority.
Jack looked toward the two black SUVs parked behind the cruiser.
"Lieutenant, who authorized these units to respond?"
Hale folded his arms.
"We received a report of an assault on an officer."
"From whom?"
"Officer Reed."
"Before or after he contacted Deputy Commissioner Shaw?"
Hale's expression changed.
The lieutenant said nothing.
Jack watched him carefully.
The radio on Hale's shoulder crackled.
DEPUTY COMMISSIONER SHAW: "Lieutenant Hale, confirm the situation is under control."
Hale reached for his radio.
LIEUTENANT HALE: "The scene is secure, sir."
DEPUTY COMMISSIONER SHAW: "Has the suspect been transferred?"
Jack stepped closer.
JACK MORGAN: "There is no suspect transfer. I am a federal agent investigating suspected evidence fabrication, and Officer Reed is being detained pending further review."
Silence followed.
Then Shaw answered.
DEPUTY COMMISSIONER SHAW: "Agent Morgan, I understand there may have been a misunderstanding. We can resolve this without unnecessary escalation."
JACK MORGAN: "A misunderstanding doesn't explain why your officer received instructions to find me."
DEPUTY COMMISSIONER SHAW: "I have no knowledge of any such instructions."
JACK MORGAN: "Then preserving the communications should establish the facts."
The radio went silent again.
Hale looked uncomfortable.
Jack could see the calculation behind the lieutenant's eyes. He was deciding whether to cooperate with a federal investigation or continue protecting members of his own department.
Before he could respond, a third vehicle arrived.
A black sedan pulled into the space beside the police cruiser. A man in a dark suit stepped out, carrying a slim leather briefcase. He was in his early fifties, with neatly combed gray hair and an expression of practiced authority.
Jack recognized him immediately.
Adrian Shaw.
The deputy commissioner had come in person.
SHAW: "Agent Morgan. I would appreciate a private conversation."
JACK MORGAN: "You can speak here."
SHAW: "This situation is attracting unnecessary attention."
JACK MORGAN: "Your officer planted evidence on me in front of multiple witnesses. Attention is the least of your concerns."
Shaw glanced at Daniel, then at the packet near the sedan.
SHAW: "We don't yet know what happened."
JACK MORGAN: "We know the packet appeared in my pocket after Officer Reed placed it there. We know he attempted to arrest me. We know he took me nowhere, because I never allowed him to complete that arrest."
SHAW: "You're making serious accusations."
JACK MORGAN: "And you're welcome to challenge them after the evidence has been secured."
For several seconds, the two men studied each other.
Shaw had spent decades navigating the political side of law enforcement. He knew how to calm angry citizens, reassure nervous supervisors, and redirect difficult conversations toward procedural language. His public reputation rested on professionalism and discretion.
But Jack noticed that Shaw had not asked whether anyone was injured.
He had not asked why Daniel had planted the packet.
He had not even asked whether the body camera had recorded the encounter.
His first concern had been controlling the situation.
That was revealing.
SHAW: "Lieutenant, take Officer Reed inside and prepare a preliminary report."
JACK MORGAN: "No."
Shaw turned toward him.
SHAW: "Excuse me?"
JACK MORGAN: "Officer Reed remains here until the responding federal team arrives. His body camera, radio, phone, and all related records must be preserved. No one is to alter or erase anything."
SHAW: "You cannot simply take control of a local police investigation."
JACK MORGAN: "I'm not taking control of your department. I'm preserving evidence in a federal investigation."
Shaw's jaw tightened.
SHAW: "You seem very certain that this falls under federal jurisdiction."
JACK MORGAN: "The evidence will establish that."
The deputy commissioner stepped closer and lowered his voice.
SHAW: "You should be careful, Agent Morgan. You may be misunderstanding the people you're dealing with."
Jack looked directly at him.
JACK MORGAN: "That's exactly what I'm trying to determine."
For a brief moment, Shaw's polished expression disappeared.