Then he lowered his voice.
MICHAEL GRANT: The cases you found were not all treated the same way.
CLAIRE BENNETT: Explain.
MICHAEL GRANT: Some people were protected because they were useful. Others were allowed to remain in prison because nobody wanted their cases reopened.
Claire stared at him.
CLAIRE BENNETT: Are you admitting that criminal cases were manipulated?
MICHAEL GRANT: I'm saying that the system is more complicated than you believe.
CLAIRE BENNETT: The system is supposed to be governed by evidence, not private arrangements.
Grant gave a bitter smile.
MICHAEL GRANT: That's what people say when they still believe everything works the way it's supposed to.
Claire stepped closer.
CLAIRE BENNETT: And what do you believe?
Grant looked away.
MICHAEL GRANT: I believe that some people are willing to destroy everything to protect themselves.
CLAIRE BENNETT: Including you?
Grant did not answer.
The agents escorted him to a separate interview location.
His luggage and electronic devices were secured.
The final major figure connected to the North River operation was now under federal investigation.
But Claire knew that capturing the people involved was only the beginning.
The next challenge would be proving every part of the operation and ensuring that the evidence could withstand legal scrutiny.
The following morning, the independent federal prosecutor held an emergency briefing.
Claire presented the recovered documents.
The financial records.
The original transfer logs.
The private storage contracts.
The electronic messages.
The witness statements.
And the security footage from North River.
The prosecutor listened carefully.
After reviewing the material, he looked toward Claire.
FEDERAL PROSECUTOR DANIEL HARRIS: How long do you believe this operation has been running?
CLAIRE BENNETT: At least four years.
DANIEL HARRIS: And the number of cases affected?
CLAIRE BENNETT: Forty-two cases are currently under review. We expect that number to increase.
DANIEL HARRIS: What about the missing narcotics?
CLAIRE BENNETT: We have recovered a substantial portion of the missing inventory. The remaining quantities are still being traced.
DANIEL HARRIS: And the department's leadership?
CLAIRE BENNETT: Chief Mercer is cooperating with the investigation. Deputy Chief Lawson has been detained. Several officers are under review. Peter Dawson is providing additional information.
DANIEL HARRIS: What about Thomas Vance?
Claire placed another folder on the table.
CLAIRE BENNETT: We have evidence that he accessed my inspection authorization, downloaded it, and forwarded it to Edward Mitchell before the inspection took place.
DANIEL HARRIS: Has he been located?
CLAIRE BENNETT: Not yet.
DANIEL HARRIS: Then we need to move quickly.
Claire nodded.
The investigation continued throughout the day.
Thomas Vance's office was secured.
His electronic devices were examined.
Investigators recovered messages between Vance and Lawson.
One conversation was particularly revealing.
VANCE: The federal inspection is confirmed for Monday.
LAWSON: Can you delay it?
VANCE: No. Bennett has already received the authorization.
LAWSON: Then we need to clear Riverstone.
VANCE: The remaining records are not all there.
LAWSON: Where?
VANCE: Meridian.
LAWSON: What about the people on the distribution list?
VANCE: They'll need to be informed.
LAWSON: Make sure Grant understands.
The messages demonstrated that Vance had actively assisted the operation.
He had not merely received money from a connected company.
He had provided confidential federal information and helped the people under investigation prepare for inspections.
His office was searched.
Several financial documents were recovered.
And by the end of the day, investigators had located him at a private residence outside the city.
He was taken into custody without incident.
When questioned, he initially denied knowing anything about Riverstone Logistics.
But after investigators presented the messages and financial records, his position changed.
He admitted that he had received payments through a consulting company.
He also acknowledged forwarding confidential inspection information.
He claimed that he had been told the money represented compensation for legitimate advisory work.
However, he could not explain why he had repeatedly sent confidential federal documents to a private storage contractor.
The investigation was now supported by evidence from every level of the operation.
The police department.
The private contractor.
The prosecutor's office.
And the federal oversight structure.
No single person could plausibly explain away the entire chain of events.
Over the following weeks, federal investigators conducted dozens of interviews.
Some officers denied involvement.
Others cooperated.
Several employees provided information that had previously been withheld because they feared retaliation.
Gabriel Ortiz became one of the most important witnesses.
He provided a detailed account of the late-night evidence transfers.