The agent looked uncomfortable.
“There's another problem.”
Victoria waited.
“He requested legal counsel.”
“That's normal.”
“He also requested protection from Colonel—”
The agent checked his notes.
“Colonel Nathaniel Cross.”
Victoria's expression changed.
She knew that name.
And she knew the investigation had just become much more dangerous.
CHAPTER 5 — OFFICER REED'S SECRET
Vanessa Reed sat alone in the interview room at the federal field office.
Her uniform jacket was folded on the table.
She had refused coffee.
She had refused to make a statement.
And she had asked three times whether she was under arrest.
Agent Brooks entered with a folder.
“Officer Reed.”
“Am I free to leave?”
“Not yet.”
“Then I want an attorney.”
“You're entitled to one.”
Brooks sat across from her.
“I'd like to understand why you were assigned to the Carter residence.”
“I responded to a dispatch.”
“Your patrol area was different.”
“Dispatch can reassign units.”
“Not without a supervisor's authorization.”
Reed folded her arms.
“I don't control the computer system.”
Brooks opened the folder.
“Lieutenant Harris authorized the assignment.”
“I don't know why.”
“Did he contact you before the call?”
“No.”
“Did anyone?”
Reed hesitated.
Brooks noticed.
“Officer, we have the dispatch recording. We have the assignment history. And we have evidence that someone used your name in a coordinated operation.”
Reed looked down.
“I didn't know who David Carter was.”
“That's not what I asked.”
She remained silent.
Brooks placed a photograph on the table.
It showed Reed standing beside a man in civilian clothing outside a restaurant.
“Do you know this individual?”
Reed looked at it.
Her expression changed.
“That's my brother.”
“His name?”
“Michael Reed.”
“Where does he work?”
“He's a private security consultant.”
“Who pays him?”
“I don't know.”
Brooks turned the photograph around.
On the back was a handwritten number.
“Does this mean anything to you?”
Reed stared at it.
Then she slowly nodded.
“It's a case reference.”
“Which case?”
“My brother said it was a protection contract.”
Brooks leaned forward.
“Protection for whom?”
Reed shook her head.
“He never told me.”
“Did he ask you to respond to the Carter residence?”
“No.”
“Did he tell you to make the complaint appear legitimate?”
Her eyes widened.
“What?”
Brooks slid another document across the table.
A text message had been recovered from a phone associated with Michael Reed.
Make sure Vanessa gets the Carter address. We need to see whether David is still there.
Reed stared at it.
“I didn't know.”
“Did you know your brother was working for someone connected to Project Harborlight?”
“No.”
Brooks closed the folder.
“Then help us find him.”
Reed looked up.
“Is he in danger?”
“I don't know.”
She swallowed.
“Please. My brother has made mistakes, but he's not a violent man.”
Brooks stood.
“Then let's hope he hasn't become involved with people who are.”
Meanwhile, David was speaking with his sister in the secure residence.
“You think the police officer was involved?”
“I think someone used her.”
“That's not the same thing.”
“No.”