“I understand exactly how much power he has.”
On the monitor, Grant approached the entrance.
The automatic doors opened.
A young officer greeted him.
Grant nodded without stopping.
He walked through the lobby as if he owned the building.
Evelyn glanced at Agent Carter.
“Where is the second team?”
“Two minutes away.”
“Keep them outside until I give the signal.”
“Understood.”
Agent Mitchell moved toward Whitaker.
“Chief, please remain seated.”
Whitaker looked at the monitor.
“You're making a serious mistake.”
Evelyn ignored him.
“Agent Mitchell, secure the warrant.”
Mitchell placed the federal arrest document inside a protective folder.
Whitaker leaned forward.
“You don't know what Grant will do.”
Evelyn looked at him.
“Then perhaps you should tell me.”
Whitaker shook his head.
“You think I'm the person who made the decisions?”
“You signed the orders.”
“I followed instructions.”
“You approved the transfers.”
“I was told they were authorized.”
“You approved the missing evidence reports.”
Whitaker looked down.
Evelyn continued.
“You authorized payments to a company that did not deliver equipment. You instructed officers to classify witness statements as unreliable. You signed the internal review that cleared the people responsible.”
Whitaker's face tightened.
“Those decisions came from above me.”
“Then give me a name.”
He looked toward the monitor.
“Grant.”
“Who else?”
Whitaker said nothing.
“Chief, you're running out of opportunities to protect yourself.”
He finally whispered:
“There's someone above Grant.”
Evelyn's expression remained still.
“Who?”
Whitaker looked directly at her.
“I never met him.”
“Then how do you know he exists?”
“Because every time Grant received an instruction, he said the same thing.”
“What?”
Whitaker swallowed.
“He said the order came from the office.”
“What office?”
Whitaker lowered his voice.
“The Governor's Office.”
Evelyn didn't react.
But Agent Carter looked at her.
The room seemed to become smaller.
Whitaker continued.
“Not the governor personally. Someone inside the administration. Someone who could move money, make appointments, and shut down investigations without leaving a public record.”
Evelyn studied him.
“Name?”
“I don't know.”
“Position?”
“I'm telling you, I don't know.”
“Then why should I believe you?”
Whitaker looked at the door.
“Because Grant is here to make sure I never tell you.”
A knock sounded.
Three firm strikes.
Then the door opened.
Deputy Commissioner Samuel Grant stepped into the interrogation room.
He looked at Whitaker.
Then Maddox.
Then Evelyn.
His eyes stopped on the black folder.
“Agent Brooks.”
Evelyn gave a small nod.
“Deputy Commissioner.”
Grant placed his briefcase on the empty chair.
“I believe there's been a misunderstanding.”
Evelyn looked at him.
“That's what everyone seems to believe today.”
Grant smiled faintly.
“May I sit?”
“No.”
He paused.
Then he pulled the chair out anyway.
“I've been informed that you are conducting an investigation into several administrative matters involving this department.”
“That's correct.”
“I've also been informed that you've presented an arrest warrant for Chief Whitaker.”
“That's correct.”
“And you've detained Detective Maddox.”
“He is being held for questioning.”
Grant nodded.
“On what authority?”
Evelyn opened her folder.
“Federal authority.”
“That isn't a legal citation.”
She removed a document and placed it on the table.
“Here is the authorization number. Here is the issuing court. Here is the scope of the investigation. Here is the signature of the federal judge.”
Grant glanced at the document.
He didn't pick it up.
“I see.”
“Do you?”
He looked at her.
“I see that you've arrived with a considerable amount of paperwork.”
Evelyn remained silent.
Grant leaned back.
“But paperwork doesn't automatically make an investigation legitimate.”
Agent Carter stepped forward.
“Deputy Commissioner, the warrant has been issued by a federal court.”
Grant looked at him.
“And you are?”
“Special Agent Daniel Carter.”
“Who is your supervisor?”
“Agent Brooks.”
Grant smiled.