CLAIRE BENNETT: Not until we establish who else may be involved.
NATHAN BROOKS: Understood.
CLAIRE BENNETT: Contact the independent federal prosecutor. Tell them we have evidence of possible obstruction involving a senior oversight official.
Nathan immediately made the call.
Meanwhile, across the city, Richard Lawson was sitting inside a black SUV parked outside a private apartment building.
He had been driving for almost an hour.
He had changed vehicles twice.
He had turned off his departmental phone.
And he had instructed his assistant not to answer any calls from the federal investigators.
He knew what had happened at Riverstone Logistics.
He knew the original records had been recovered.
And he knew that Daniel Cole had started cooperating.
That was the most dangerous development.
Daniel had been present during several evidence transfers.
He had delivered packages.
He had witnessed conversations.
And he knew the location of a second storage facility.
Lawson took a different phone from the center console.
He called Michael Grant.
The assistant district attorney answered after several rings.
MICHAEL GRANT: What?
RICHARD LAWSON: We have a problem.
MICHAEL GRANT: I know.
RICHARD LAWSON: They found the storage facility.
MICHAEL GRANT: I heard.
RICHARD LAWSON: They recovered the records.
MICHAEL GRANT: I said I heard.
RICHARD LAWSON: Daniel is cooperating.
There was silence.
MICHAEL GRANT: Are you certain?
RICHARD LAWSON: He was taken into federal custody. He gave them information about Riverstone.
MICHAEL GRANT: How much?
RICHARD LAWSON: Enough to identify the people involved.
Grant exhaled sharply.
MICHAEL GRANT: Where are you?
RICHARD LAWSON: I can't go back to headquarters.
MICHAEL GRANT: Then don't.
RICHARD LAWSON: We need to get the remaining records out.
MICHAEL GRANT: There aren't any remaining records.
RICHARD LAWSON: What about the second facility?
Grant did not respond.
RICHARD LAWSON: Michael?
MICHAEL GRANT: The second facility is already being cleared.
Lawson closed his eyes.
RICHARD LAWSON: By whom?
MICHAEL GRANT: People who understand the situation.
RICHARD LAWSON: You told me everything was under control.
MICHAEL GRANT: It was under control until Bennett arrived.
RICHARD LAWSON: Vance warned us.
MICHAEL GRANT: And you were supposed to make sure the evidence was gone before she got there.
RICHARD LAWSON: Don't put this all on me.
MICHAEL GRANT: I'm not putting anything on you. I'm reminding you that we all made decisions.
Lawson gripped the steering wheel.
RICHARD LAWSON: I need to know what happens next.
MICHAEL GRANT: Nothing happens if you stop talking.
RICHARD LAWSON: And if they find the second facility?
MICHAEL GRANT: They won't.
The call ended.
Lawson stared at the phone.
For the first time, he realized that Grant was no longer trying to protect him.
He was trying to protect himself.
And if the investigation continued, everyone would eventually be forced to choose between cooperating and accepting responsibility for the entire operation.
Lawson started the engine.
He had one final option.
He needed to find the original financial ledger.
The document that contained every payment, every transfer, and every name connected to the operation.
If he could obtain it before the federal team did, he might still have something to negotiate with.
But he did not know that Claire had already discovered the location.
At 7:35 p.m., Nathan received an encrypted message from the financial investigation team.
It contained the address of a second warehouse located approximately twelve miles outside North River.
The property was registered to a company called Meridian Commercial Holdings.
Its registered director was Edward Mitchell.
The same man connected to Riverstone Logistics.
Nathan showed the information to Claire.
NATHAN BROOKS: We found another location.
CLAIRE BENNETT: What is it?
NATHAN BROOKS: A storage facility on the eastern industrial road. It has received several payments from the same accounts.
CLAIRE BENNETT: Does it contain evidence?
NATHAN BROOKS: We don't know yet.
CLAIRE BENNETT: What makes you think it's connected?
NATHAN BROOKS: The property received a payment of $280,000 three days before your inspection was scheduled.
Claire examined the date.
It was the same day Thomas Vance had forwarded her authorization.
CLAIRE BENNETT: Who accessed the property?
Nathan opened another record.
NATHAN BROOKS: Richard Lawson. Daniel Cole. Edward Mitchell.
Claire looked at the list.
CLAIRE BENNETT: Any connection to Michael Grant?
NATHAN BROOKS: His vehicle was recorded entering the property twice.
Claire stood up.
CLAIRE BENNETT: Prepare a team.
NATHAN BROOKS: Do you want to accompany them?
CLAIRE BENNETT: Yes.