Elena stared at it.
"What's on there?"
"Everything."
"Everything about what?"
Daniel swallowed.
"The night Sarah Whitmore disappeared. The names of everyone involved. The evidence they buried. And the reason Thomas Whitmore was murdered."
Elena reached for the drive.
But Daniel pulled it away.
"Not here."
"Daniel, give it to me."
He shook his head.
"There's a microphone in this room."
Elena glanced toward the ceiling.
A tiny red light blinked above the ventilation grille.
Someone was listening.
Then Daniel whispered:
"Detective, there's something else."
"What?"
"Sarah Whitmore didn't disappear twenty years ago."
Elena felt her pulse quicken.
"Then where is she?"
Daniel looked toward the dark corridor.
"She was working inside this police department."
A sudden metallic crash echoed behind them.
Elena spun around.
The basement lights went out.
And from somewhere in the darkness, a man's voice spoke.
"Put the drive down, Daniel."
Elena recognized the voice immediately.
Captain Richard Hayes.
"Or neither of you leaves this building alive."
The darkness lasted only a few seconds.
Then the emergency lights flickered on, painting the basement corridor in a dull red glow.
Captain Richard Hayes stood at the entrance of Room Three.
His right hand rested near his belt.
Behind him were two uniformed officers.
Elena immediately recognized both men.
Officer Mark Bennett and Officer James Carter.
They had worked under Hayes for years.
"Detective Cross," Hayes said calmly. "Step away from the prisoner."
Elena kept her weapon lowered but ready.
"He's not your prisoner anymore."
Hayes raised an eyebrow.
"Excuse me?"
"His transfer was unauthorized. I never approved it."
"I am the captain of this department."
"And I'm the lead investigator in a murder case."
Hayes smiled.
"You're becoming difficult."
"That's usually what happens when people start lying."
For a moment, nobody moved.
Then Hayes looked at Daniel.
"Give me the flash drive."
Daniel remained silent.
"Daniel, don't make this worse."
The young officer stepped behind Elena.
"Why are you so afraid of what's on it, sir?"
Hayes sighed.
"You really don't understand what you're holding."
"Then explain it."
"I've spent twenty years protecting this department."
Daniel shook his head.
"No. You've spent twenty years protecting yourself."
Hayes's expression changed.
He took one step forward.
Elena raised her weapon.
"Stop right there."
The captain looked at her.
"Put that gun down."
"Call off your officers."
"You're making a mistake."
"Then prove it."
Hayes stared at her for several seconds before slowly raising both hands.
"Fine. Let's talk."
He motioned for Bennett and Carter to leave.
Neither officer moved.
Elena noticed.
"Captain?"
Hayes glanced over his shoulder.
"Out."
The two officers finally disappeared into the corridor.
Hayes entered the room and closed the door.
"Now," he said, "tell me what Daniel has told you."
Elena folded her arms.
"Why don't you tell me what happened twenty years ago?"
The captain's jaw tightened.
"You have no idea what you're dealing with."
"Then help me understand."
He looked at Daniel.
"Did he tell you about Sarah?"
"Yes."
"Did he tell you about the courthouse?"
"Not yet."
Hayes laughed bitterly.
"Of course he didn't."
Daniel stepped forward.
"Tell her the truth."
Hayes turned sharply.
"You were a child when it happened."
"And you were already a murderer."
The accusation hung in the air.
Elena looked between them.
"Who was murdered?"
Hayes rubbed his face.
"Twenty years ago, a young woman named Sarah Whitmore worked as an administrative assistant at the district courthouse. She discovered evidence connecting several senior officials to an illegal operation."
"What operation?"
"An operation that no longer exists."
"That's not an answer."
"It was called Black Lantern."
Daniel's face went pale.
Elena looked at him.
"You've heard that name?"
He nodded.
"My father used to mention it."
"Your father?"
Hayes stared at Daniel.
"Now there's something you don't know."
Daniel stepped forward.
"Leave my father out of this."
"Your father wasn't the man you believed he was."
"Shut up."
"Detective Cross, do you know why Daniel joined the police?"
Elena shook her head.
"Because he wanted to find out what happened to his father," Hayes continued.
Daniel looked away.
"My father died in a car accident."
"That's what you were told."
Elena felt a chill.
Hayes continued.
"Your father was Detective Michael Reeves. He investigated Black Lantern before the case was buried. He was found dead three days after Sarah disappeared."
Daniel's voice trembled.
"You're lying."
"Am I?"
Hayes reached inside his jacket and produced an old photograph.
It showed a man standing beside a young boy.
Daniel recognized the man immediately.
His father.
But there was someone else in the photograph.
A woman standing in the background.
Sarah Whitmore.
"Your father knew her," Hayes said. "And he knew what happened to her."
Daniel stared at the photograph.
"Why didn't anyone tell me?"
"Because the truth would have destroyed your life."
Elena stepped forward.
"What happened to Sarah?"
Hayes looked at her.
"She witnessed a murder. Then she disappeared."
"Who killed the victim?"
The captain hesitated.
Then he said:
"Michael Reeves."
Daniel staggered backward.
"No."
"Your father killed the man who was supposed to protect her."
"You're lying!"