At 1:32 a.m., the federal command center received a new security report.
The investigation had uncovered a second suspicious vehicle.
It was a white commercial van registered to a company that had previously supplied equipment to several government facilities.
The van had been photographed near the presidential route earlier that evening.
Unlike the dark gray sedan, it had not remained stationary.
It had moved between three separate locations.
The last recorded position placed it near the entrance to a private underground parking facility.
Marcus studied the images.
Haynes stood beside him.
"That's the white vehicle from the earlier footage."
"Yes."
"Could it belong to the same people?"
"Possibly."
The communications officer displayed a new photograph.
The side door of the van was partially open.
Inside, investigators could see several electronic devices, cables, and equipment cases.
The vehicle was now secured.
A federal technical team was examining the contents.
Marcus looked toward the supervisor.
"Any evidence of explosives?"
"Nothing confirmed. The technical team is conducting a full examination."
Haynes pointed toward the digital map.
"Why was the van moving between these locations?"
The supervisor enlarged the route.
"One possibility is that the driver was tracking the motorcade's movement."
Marcus examined the three stops.
The first was near a temporary security checkpoint.
The second was close to a communications relay facility.
The third was approximately one mile from the presidential event location.
He slowly understood the pattern.
"These aren't random locations."
Haynes leaned closer.
"What do you see?"
Marcus pointed toward the map.
"The vehicle moved between places where security information could potentially be observed or intercepted."
The supervisor nodded.
"That's consistent with the current assessment."
A communications officer approached.
"Agent Reed, the technical team found something inside the van."
"What?"
"A portable storage device."
"Has it been examined?"
"Preliminary examination identified several files containing images of the presidential route."
Marcus looked at Haynes.
"Anything else?"
The officer hesitated.
"There's a folder labeled EASTERN CHECKPOINT."
The room became silent.
The folder contained photographs of the checkpoint, the black SUV, and the temporary security barriers.
There were also photographs of Marcus.
Some had been taken several days earlier.
One showed him entering a government building.
Another showed him speaking with Haynes.
A third showed him standing beside a vehicle near the eastern corridor.
Haynes stared at the screen.
"They've been following us."
Marcus nodded.
The technical officer opened another file.
It contained a document with several names and assigned positions.
Marcus immediately recognized one name.
MARCUS REED β EASTERN ADVANCE TEAM.
Below it was a second name.
EVELYN HAYNES β MOBILE COORDINATION.
The officer continued scrolling.
A third name appeared.
RICHARD CARTER β LOCAL PERIMETER LIAISON.
Haynes looked at Marcus.
"That confirms they knew our assignments."
Marcus remained focused on the screen.
"Who created the document?"
The technician answered.
"We're still investigating its origin."
Then another file opened.
It contained a photograph of the presidential motorcade route, marked with several red circles.
One circle was positioned at the eastern checkpoint.
Another was near the communications relay facility.
The final circle was at the event venue.
Haynes slowly stepped back.
"This wasn't just surveillance."
Marcus nodded.
"They were mapping the security operation."
The supervisor entered a new command into the system.
"All relevant evidence is being preserved. The threat assessment team has been notified."
A moment later, the communications officer received another message.
He read it silently.
Then he looked up.
"Sir, we have a development concerning Lieutenant Carter."
Marcus turned.
"What?"
"Carter's financial records show that he received payments from a company linked to Victor Hale."
"How much?"
"Approximately eighty thousand dollars over six months."
Haynes frowned.
"That's significant."
"There's more. The company also paid for several hotel reservations near the presidential route."
Marcus stared at the screen.
"Do we know whether Carter knew about the surveillance?"
"Not conclusively."
The supervisor nodded.
"Investigators will establish that."
Then a new alert appeared.
A vehicle had entered the underground parking facility where the white van was found.
It was a black SUV.
The driver exited and walked toward the secured area.
The surveillance camera captured his face.
Marcus recognized him immediately.
Victor Hale.
The former Northbridge contractor.
The man connected to the stolen vehicle.
The man whose access card had been left inside the gray sedan.
Haynes looked at the screen.
"That's our subject."
The supervisor gave an immediate instruction.
"Coordinate with the investigative team. Maintain visual contact."
Marcus studied the image.
Hale appeared calm.
He carried a small black case in one hand.
He walked toward the entrance.
Then he stopped.
For a few seconds, he looked directly at the security camera.
And smiled.