The sender's address was unfamiliar.
The subject line read:
MY FATHER'S LAST LETTER.
She opened it.
Inside was a scanned document.
It was a letter written by Thomas Walker shortly before his death.
Sarah recognized his handwriting immediately.
Her hands began trembling.
She read the first sentence.
Sarah, if you're reading this, I have failed to protect you from the people I trusted.
She continued.
I discovered the detention facility several months before Michael disappeared. At first, I believed Captain Hayes was responsible. I was wrong.
Sarah stopped.
She read the next paragraph.
Hayes was following orders. The person who created the entire operation was not a police officer.
Sarah leaned closer.
It was a man named Victor Hale.
She had never heard that name.
The letter continued.
Victor Hale was a private security businessman who financed the political campaigns of several city officials. He had connections to the mayor's office, the police commissioner, and the judicial system.
Sarah felt a chill.
He used Northbridge to control the money. He used Blackwood to control the police. And he used Hayes to keep witnesses silent.
At the bottom of the letter was another sentence.
If you ever find Michael Bennett, ask him about the night of October 17. He knows who gave the final order.
Sarah immediately called Daniel.
"We have a problem."
Daniel answered.
"What happened?"
She explained everything.
Daniel was silent for several seconds.
"Victor Hale."
"Do you know him?"
"Only from the news. He's one of the richest businessmen in the state."
Sarah sent him the letter.
Daniel read it.
"Then Blackwood isn't the mastermind."
"No. He's just part of the operation."
Daniel looked at the photograph of Michael.
"Which means we still don't know who ordered the disappearances."
Sarah nodded.
"Michael does."
That evening, Arthur was taken to another room.
This one was larger.
There was a table, two chairs, and a glass wall.
On the other side stood a young man.
He looked thinner than in the photographs.
His hair was longer.
His face was pale.
But Arthur recognized him immediately.
Michael.
For a moment, Arthur could not breathe.
He stood.
"Michael?"
The young man looked up.
His eyes filled with tears.
"Dad?"
Arthur pressed his hands against the glass.
"My boy."
Michael stepped closer.
They stared at each other.
Nine years of searching.
Nine years of pain.
Nine years of believing they might never see each other again.
And now they were standing only a few feet apart.
Arthur began crying.
"I thought you were dead."
Michael shook his head.
"I'm sorry, Dad."
Arthur looked at the guards.
"Open this door!"
Nobody moved.
Michael pressed his hand against the glass.
"Listen to me. We don't have much time."
Arthur wiped his eyes.
"What happened to you?"
Michael looked down.
"They made me work for them."
Arthur frowned.
"What?"
"They forced me to maintain the financial records. They threatened to hurt you if I refused."
Arthur closed his eyes.
Michael continued.
"I tried to escape twice. They caught me both times."
"Why didn't you tell them where the evidence was?"
Michael looked directly at him.
"Because I knew you had hidden the original records."
Arthur slowly nodded.
Then Michael said something that changed everything.
"There's another reason they kept me alive."
Arthur looked confused.
"What?"
Michael swallowed.
"Because I was the only witness to the murder of Victor Hale's former business partner."
Arthur froze.
"Who killed him?"
Michael looked toward the camera.
Then he whispered:
"Commissioner Blackwood."
A guard suddenly entered the room.
"Conversation is over."
Michael grabbed the glass.
"Dad! Whatever happens, don't let them take the key!"
The guard pulled him away.
Arthur watched helplessly as his son disappeared through another door.
He slowly sat down.
His tears had stopped.
His expression had changed.
For nine years, he had been searching for his son.
Now he knew the truth.
And he would no longer allow the people responsible to hide behind their badges.
Daniel and Sarah knew they had very little time.
The evidence was incomplete.
Arthur and Michael were still prisoners.
And Commissioner Blackwood had begun eliminating anyone who might expose the operation.
They needed something undeniable.
Something that could not be dismissed as a false recording or fabricated document.
They needed the original files.
The files hidden beneath the old courthouse.
Daniel studied the architectural plans on a laptop.
"The entrance is here."
Sarah examined the diagram.
"And the room is directly beneath the main courtroom."
Daniel nodded.
"We go in through the maintenance tunnel."
"How?"
He showed her an old access map.
"There was a service entrance behind the building. It connects to the basement."
Sarah looked concerned.
"That building is probably being watched."
Daniel smiled faintly.
"Then we make sure they look somewhere else."
At 10 PM, James Wilson arrived at the abandoned clinic.
He looked exhausted.
His shirt was dirty.
There was blood on his sleeve.
Daniel immediately stood.
"What happened?"
James looked at him.
"I need your help."
Sarah raised her weapon.
"Stay where you are."
James lifted his hands.
"I'm not here to hurt you."
Daniel stared at him.
"Where is your family?"
"Safe. I sent them out of the city."
"Why should we believe you?"
James reached into his pocket and placed a small flash drive on the table.
"Because this contains the full recording."
Sarah picked it up.
"Where did you get it?"
"From Blackwood's private office."
Daniel looked surprised.
"You broke into his office?"
James nodded.
"Last night."
Sarah connected the drive.
A video appeared.
Commissioner Blackwood was sitting inside a private meeting room.
Beside him was Victor Hale.
And standing behind them was Captain Hayes.
The conversation was clear.
Hale spoke first.
"Michael must remain alive until we recover the original files."
Blackwood nodded.
"And Arthur?"
Hale smiled.
"He's old. He won't last much longer."
Hayes looked uncomfortable.
"We should release them."
Hale turned toward him.
"Do you remember who paid for your promotion, Richard?"
Hayes said nothing.
Hale continued.
"You were nobody when I found you. I gave you power."
Blackwood leaned forward.
"And you will keep it only as long as you remain useful."
The video ended.
Sarah stared at the screen.
"That's enough to expose all three of them."
Daniel shook his head.
"Not Victor Hale. We need to connect him directly to the murders."
James looked at them.
"I know where the original files are."
Daniel turned.
"How?"
"Because I helped move them."
Sarah looked horrified.
James lowered his head.
"I was involved from the beginning."
The room became silent.
Daniel approached him.
"How many people?"
James closed his eyes.
"I don't know."
"How many witnesses disappeared because of you?"
James began crying.
"I was following orders."
Daniel grabbed his jacket.
"That doesn't bring anyone back!"
James did not resist.
"I know."
Daniel released him.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then James placed another photograph on the table.
It showed his wife and daughter.
"They threatened them. I was afraid."
Sarah looked at him.