She pressed the button.
"Unit Twelve. Go ahead."
A male dispatcher answered.
"Officer Miller, we have a request for a status update regarding your location."
Jessica frowned.
"What's the nature of the request?"
There was a short pause.
"Stand by."
Jessica glanced at David.
He was watching her.
The dispatcher returned.
"Officer, do you currently have contact with an individual named David Morgan?"
Jessica's expression tightened.
She looked at the man standing in front of her.
"Affirmative. Why?"
The radio remained silent for two seconds.
Then the dispatcher spoke again.
"Stand by. A supervisor is requesting to speak with you."
Jessica frowned.
"What's this about?"
The dispatcher lowered his voice.
"Officer Miller, I'm not sure. But you need to remain where you are."
David quietly looked down at the black bag.
Then he said something that made Jessica turn toward him.
"Now you understand why I wanted your camera recording."
THE NAME ON THE RADIO
Jessica pressed the radio again.
"Dispatch, identify the supervisor."
"Lieutenant Harris."
"Put him through."
A different voice came over the speaker.
"Officer Miller?"
"Yes, Lieutenant."
"Are you currently with David Morgan?"
"Yes."
"Where exactly?"
Jessica gave the location.
There was a pause.
Then the lieutenant asked:
"Is he carrying anything?"
Jessica glanced at the black bag.
"One large black trash bag containing an unidentified metal object."
The lieutenant's tone changed immediately.
"Do not touch that bag."
Jessica frowned.
"Sir?"
"I said do not touch it."
"Lieutenant, I have the situation under control."
"Officer Miller, listen to me carefully."
His voice became firm.
"Do not open the bag. Do not move it. Do not attempt to search it."
Jessica looked at David again.
He stood perfectly still.
"Why?"
The lieutenant didn't answer.
Instead, he asked another question.
"Has Mr. Morgan identified himself?"
"Yes."
"Did he provide any identification?"
"No."
"Then don't ask him to do anything else until I arrive."
Jessica's frustration became visible.
"Lieutenant, with all due respect, I'm standing here with a suspicious individual carrying an unidentified object. I need to know what I'm dealing with."
The response came immediately.
"You're dealing with someone whose name should have been explained to you before you approached him."
Jessica froze.
"What does that mean?"
The radio clicked.
"Stand by."
She lowered it slowly.
David watched her.
For the first time that night, Jessica looked uncertain.
"Who are you?"
David gave her a tired smile.
"Someone who thought he could finally put this behind him."
"Why is my lieutenant asking about you?"
"Because he remembers."
"Remembers what?"
David glanced at the bag.
"Eleven years ago, three people disappeared from this property."
Jessica stared at him.
"Three people?"
"Two maintenance workers and a security supervisor."
"What happened to them?"
"The department said they resigned."
"And you don't believe that?"
David's expression hardened.
"I know they didn't."
Jessica looked at the bag.
"Are you saying you found their bodies?"
David shook his head.
"No."
He paused.
"I'm saying I found something much worse."
THE SECOND VEHICLE
A pair of headlights appeared at the entrance.
Jessica turned.
A dark sedan slowly entered the parking lot.
It moved without flashing emergency lights.
The vehicle stopped near the patrol car.
A man in a dark jacket stepped out.
He was tall, broad-shouldered, and appeared to be in his late forties.
Jessica recognized him immediately.
"Lieutenant Harris?"
The man nodded.
"Officer."
He approached quickly, looking first at Jessica and then at David.
"Mr. Morgan."
David gave a small nod.
"Lieutenant."
Harris glanced at the black bag.
"Is that it?"
David answered quietly.
"Yes."
Harris exhaled.