The clock on the wall stopped at 11:47 p.m.
Nobody in the room seemed to notice.
Officer Daniel Reeves sat alone at a metal table, his hands folded together, his uniform slightly wrinkled, and a thin line of dried blood running along his right sleeve. Across from him sat Detective Elena Cross, a woman whose expression had remained unchanged for nearly forty minutes.
Between them lay a small evidence bag.
Inside it was a silver police badge.
Daniel stared at it as if it belonged to someone else.
"Do you recognize this?" Elena finally asked.
Daniel lifted his eyes.
"You've asked me that three times."
"And you've avoided answering three times."
"Because it's my badge."
Elena leaned back in her chair. Her dark eyes studied him carefully.
"Your badge was found at the scene of a murder, Officer Reeves. A murder that happened less than six hours ago. The victim was a federal prosecutor. His name was Thomas Whitmore."
Daniel swallowed.
"I didn't kill him."
"Then why was your badge found underneath his body?"
For the first time, Daniel looked genuinely frightened.
"I don't know."
Elena opened a folder and slid a photograph across the table.
It showed a large office with shattered glass, overturned furniture, and a man lying motionless beside a desk. A dark pool of blood had spread beneath his chest.
Daniel looked away.
"Have you ever met Thomas Whitmore?" Elena asked.
"No."
"Think carefully."
"I said no."
"Because according to his phone records, he called you seven times last night."
Daniel's expression changed.
Only slightly.
But Elena noticed.
"Seven calls," she repeated. "All within twenty minutes. The last one was made at 10:36 p.m., approximately fifteen minutes before his estimated time of death."
Daniel rubbed his forehead.
"I never received those calls."
"Your phone was switched off?"
"No."
"Then perhaps you should explain why the records say otherwise."
He looked at her.
"Detective, I think someone is setting me up."
Elena closed the folder.
"That's an interesting theory."
"It's not a theory. Someone planted my badge. Someone used my phone records. And someone wants me sitting in this room."
"Who?"
Daniel opened his mouth.
Then stopped.
His eyes shifted toward the observation window.
Behind the dark glass, someone was watching.
He couldn't see the person's face, but he could feel their presence.
"Who is watching us?" he whispered.
Elena glanced toward the glass.
"Nobody you need to worry about."
"Then why are you afraid?"
Her expression hardened.
"I'm not afraid."
Daniel leaned forward.
"Yes, you are."
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Elena's phone vibrated.
She glanced at the screen.
The name displayed there made the color drain from her face.
UNKNOWN NUMBER.
She answered without taking her eyes off Daniel.
"Cross."
A man's voice came through the speaker.
"Get out of that room."
Elena frowned.
"Who is this?"
"You have less than five minutes."
"Identify yourself."
The voice became quieter.
"Ask Daniel what happened beneath the old courthouse."
Elena froze.
Daniel noticed immediately.
"What is it?" he asked.
She ignored him.
"Who are you?"
The caller breathed heavily.
"Tell him that Sarah is alive."
Then the line went dead.
Elena slowly lowered the phone.
Daniel had gone completely pale.
"Who is Sarah?" she asked.
He didn't answer.
"Daniel?"
He stared at the evidence bag.
His hands were trembling now.
"Where did you hear that name?"
Elena stood up.
"Who is Sarah?"
Before he could respond, the interrogation room door opened.
Captain Richard Hayes entered.
He was in his late fifties, broad-shouldered, with silver hair and a face that seemed permanently carved into an expression of disappointment. His uniform was immaculate, his shoes polished, and his eyes unusually cold.
"Detective Cross," he said. "I need a word."
Elena didn't move.
"We're in the middle of an interrogation."
"Not anymore."
"Captain, I haven't finished questioning him."
Hayes glanced at Daniel.
"He's done talking."
Daniel immediately lowered his head.
Something about the captain's presence frightened him more than the accusations.
Hayes walked behind Daniel's chair and placed one hand on his shoulder.
"Stand up, son."
Daniel remained seated.
"I didn't do it, sir."
The captain leaned closer.
"I know exactly what you did."
His fingers tightened around Daniel's shoulder.
"And I know what happens to people who start talking about things they don't understand."
Elena stepped forward.
"Captain, release him."
Hayes looked at her.
For a moment, the room seemed to become smaller.
"Detective, I suggest you remember who signs your paycheck."
"And I suggest you remember that this is a homicide investigation."
Hayes smiled.
It was not a friendly smile.
"Then investigate the murder. Stop chasing ghosts."
He pulled Daniel to his feet.
Daniel stumbled, grabbing the edge of the table.
The evidence bag fell to the floor.
The silver badge slid beneath the chair.
And as Hayes dragged the young officer toward the door, Daniel turned his head toward Elena.
His lips moved.
He said only three words.
"Check the basement."
Elena heard him.
Hayes heard him too.
The captain stopped walking.
Slowly, he turned back toward Daniel.
"What did you just say?"
Daniel lowered his eyes.
"Nothing, sir."