“Director, we're at the stairwell. Do not open the room.”
James exhaled.
“Copy that.”
Marcus continued.
“We have one suspect detained. The other ran.”
James looked at Peter.
“Whoever sent them knew where we were.”
Lawson nodded.
“They always know.”
CHAPTER 17 — BROOKS MAKES A CHOICE
While the federal team secured the motel, Ethan Brooks received a call from his sister.
Sarah was safe, but she had found something hidden behind a loose panel in her apartment.
It was a small memory card.
Brooks immediately contacted James.
When they met, Sarah explained that the card had been left by their father, a former county records officer who had died five years earlier.
“He told me never to throw away his old files,” she said.
James examined the memory card.
“What does it contain?”
“Videos. Scanned documents. Audio recordings.”
Marcus connected it to an isolated computer.
A video appeared.
The recording showed a younger William Rourke speaking to an unidentified man inside an office.
Rourke said:
“The patrol division is manageable. The problem is the federal review.”
The other man responded:
“Then make sure the review never reaches the original financial records.”
The camera angle shifted.
For the first time, the man's face became visible.
James recognized him.
He was the same senior federal official named in Peter Lawson's notebook.
Brooks looked at James.
“Who is that?”
James did not answer immediately.
Then he said:
“Deputy Director Nathaniel Grant.”
Marcus looked stunned.
“Your superior?”
James nodded.
Grant was one of the most powerful officials in the federal agency.
And he had personally approved the closure of James's original investigation.
Brooks stared at the screen.
“So what happens now?”
James looked at the young officer.
“Now we stop treating this like a local corruption case.”
CHAPTER 18 — THE FEDERAL DIVISION
James requested an emergency meeting with the FBI Director.
The request was denied.
The reason given was administrative.
James tried again through a different secure channel.
Denied.
Marcus checked the authorization logs.
“Someone has restricted your access to the case.”
James looked at him.
“Who?”
“Grant's office.”
Captain Mitchell entered the room.
“Director, I just received an order from the state. They want Hayes transferred back to district custody.”
James frowned.
“On what grounds?”
“Pending internal review.”
James shook his head.
“Absolutely not.”
Mitchell handed him another document.
“They're also requesting Brooks's immediate suspension.”
Brooks looked up.
“What?”
James read the order.
It had been issued by the district commander and countersigned by the state oversight office.
Adrian Cole's signature appeared at the bottom.
James placed it on the table.
“They're trying to isolate every witness.”
Marcus checked his phone.
“Director, we have another problem.”
“What?”
“Grant is holding a press conference in twenty minutes.”
James watched the live broadcast begin on the conference-room screen.
Deputy Director Nathaniel Grant stood behind a podium.
He announced that an unauthorized federal operation had created confusion within the Virginia Highway Patrol.
He described James's investigation as premature and potentially damaging.
Then he said:
“We have no evidence of a coordinated corruption network.”
James stared at the screen.
Grant looked directly into the camera.
“And Deputy Director Carter will be placed on administrative review.”
The room fell silent.