The same period when the hearing was manipulated.
The judge looked toward his chambers.
"What did they access?"
"Your computer."
"Anything else?"
"Your files."
"Which files?"
The marshal handed him a printed access report.
The judge read it.
One folder stood out.
UNITED STATES V. CALDER.
His eyes narrowed.
"Why would someone access this file?"
"We don't know."
The judge turned the page.
Another folder.
SEALED EXHIBIT B.
He stopped.
"Was anything copied?"
"We're checking."
"Do it."
The marshal nodded.
The judge walked back into his chambers.
Emily was waiting.
"What's wrong?"
He closed the door.
"Someone accessed the Calder case files."
Her face changed.
"Which files?"
"Exhibit B."
She looked frightened.
"Judge..."
"What?"
"That exhibit isn't supposed to be here."
He stared at her.
"What do you mean?"
"It was transferred to the secure evidence facility three months ago."
The judge looked at the computer.
"Then why is there an access record?"
Emily walked toward the desk.
She opened the secure case management system.
Her fingers moved quickly.
Then she froze.
"It's still here."
"What?"
"Exhibit B."
The judge leaned over her shoulder.
A digital record showed:
SEALED EXHIBIT B — PHYSICAL LOCATION: FEDERAL COURTHOUSE, ROOM 4B, SECURE CABINET 3.
Emily shook her head.
"That's wrong."
"Why?"
"Because I personally transferred it."
"When?"
"Three months ago."
"To whom?"
"The evidence custodian."
"Name?"
"Thomas Reed."
The judge looked at her.
"Call him."
Emily picked up the phone.
No answer.
She tried again.
Still nothing.
"Leave a message."
She did.
The judge stared at the file.
"What's in Exhibit B?"
Emily hesitated.
"You know what's in it."
"I know what's listed."
"What?"
"An original digital storage device."
"From the Calder investigation."
"Yes."
"What does it contain?"
Emily looked at him.
"Evidence of communications between Calder and several government contractors."
The judge's eyes narrowed.
"Who has seen it?"
"Prosecution. Defense. Court."
"Anyone else?"
"No."
"Then someone went to extraordinary lengths to access it."
Emily looked at him.
"Why?"
The judge closed the file.
"That's what we're going to find out."
At that exact moment, his phone vibrated.
Unknown number.
He answered.
"Hello?"
Silence.
Then a voice.
"Judge."
He recognized it.
The same voice that had called Lewis.
"Who is this?"
"You need to stop."
"Stop what?"
"You know."
"No, I don't."
"You are asking questions you were never supposed to ask."
The judge remained calm.
"Then tell me the answer."
Silence.
"You have no idea who you're dealing with."
"I know exactly who I'm dealing with."
The voice laughed softly.
"No, Judge. You don't."
The line went dead.
The judge stared at the phone.
Emily looked at him.
"Was that him?"
"Yes."
"What did he say?"
The judge looked at the closed door.
"He wants me to stop."
"Are you going to?"
"No."
Emily nodded.
"Then what do we do?"
The judge placed the phone on the desk.
"We find out who ordered Officer Dawson to stop me."
"And then?"
"We find out why."
The investigation began with Lieutenant Mark Harris.
At 9:02 that morning, Harris was summoned to the chief security office.
He arrived five minutes later.
He looked irritated.
"What's this about?"
Lewis sat behind the desk.
The judge stood near the window.
Dawson was seated in the corner.
Harris stopped when he saw her.
"What happened?"
Lewis looked at him.
"Did you issue a security alert this morning?"
Harris nodded.
"Yes."
"At what time?"
"About 7:40."
"Why?"
"We received information about a potential threat."
"From whom?"
Harris hesitated.
"An anonymous source."
Lewis frowned.
"Who contacted you?"
"I don't remember."
"You don't remember?"
"It was a phone call."
"From what number?"
Harris reached for his phone.
"I'll have to check."
The judge stepped forward.
"Did you tell Officer Dawson to stop me?"
Harris looked at him.
For the first time, his expression changed.
"Your Honor."
"Answer the question."
"I didn't know it was you."
"That wasn't my question."
Harris swallowed.
"Yes."
"Why?"
"You matched the description."
"What description?"
"A man in a dark suit carrying a briefcase."
The judge nodded.
"Who gave you that description?"
Harris didn't answer.
"Lieutenant."
"An anonymous caller."
"Name?"
"I don't have one."
"Phone number?"
"I'll check."
The judge stared at him.
"You issued a security alert based on an anonymous caller, gave an officer a vague description, ordered her to prevent an unidentified person from entering a courtroom, and now you can't produce the caller's information."
Harris shifted.
"That's not what happened."
"What happened?"
"I received information about a possible threat."
"From whom?"
"I told you."
"Then show me the record."
Harris looked toward Lewis.
"What record?"
"The security alert."
Harris said nothing.
The judge understood.
"There is no record."
Harris's face tightened.
"There should be."
"But there isn't."
The room went silent.
Dawson looked at Harris.
"You told me it was urgent."
Harris turned toward her.
"It was."
"You told me the man was dangerous."
"I said he might be."
"You told me not to let him reach the courtroom."
Harris looked away.
The judge stepped closer.
"Why 8:15?"
Harris's eyes returned to him.