The person who answered told her that Daniel had been taken into custody.
But when she asked why, the officer refused to provide details.
Olivia grabbed her jacket and drove to the station.
By the time she arrived, the rain had started.
She rushed through the entrance.
"I'm looking for my brother. Daniel Carter."
The receptionist typed something into the computer.
"He's currently being questioned."
"I want to see him."
"That's not possible."
"Why not?"
"Because he's under investigation."
Olivia placed both hands on the counter.
"Then tell me what he's being investigated for."
"I'm sorry. I can't discuss the case."
"He's never been arrested before. He hasn't done anything wrong."
The receptionist looked uncomfortable.
"Ma'am, please calm down."
Olivia shook her head.
"Don't tell me to calm down. Just tell me where he is."
A security officer approached.
"Ma'am, you need to step away from the desk."
Olivia took a deep breath.
"Please. I'm his only family."
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then a familiar voice came from behind her.
"Olivia?"
She turned.
Officer Ryan was standing near the hallway.
He looked exhausted.
"Are you Daniel's sister?"
"Yes. Where is he?"
Ryan glanced toward the reception desk.
"He's inside."
"Is he okay?"
Ryan hesitated.
That hesitation frightened her more than any answer.
"He's alive," Ryan finally said.
Olivia's eyes filled with tears.
"What happened?"
"I can't explain everything here."
"Please."
Ryan lowered his voice.
"Your brother may be involved in something bigger than this arrest."
Olivia frowned.
"What does that mean?"
Before Ryan could answer, Sergeant Miller appeared.
"Officer Ryan. What are you doing?"
"Just assisting a family member."
"Go back to your desk."
Ryan looked at Olivia one last time.
"Don't leave yet," he whispered.
Then he walked away.
Miller approached the counter.
"Ma'am, I understand you're upset, but your brother is involved in an active investigation."
Olivia looked directly at him.
"Then why does your officer look like he's afraid to talk?"
Miller's jaw tightened.
"Watch your words."
"Did my brother hurt someone?"
"That's what we're investigating."
"Did he?"
Miller didn't answer.
Olivia reached into her bag and pulled out her phone.
"I have something you should see."
She opened a photograph.
It showed Daniel standing beside a middle-aged man at a community event.
Miller glanced at it.
"Who's that?"
"Michael Reed."
The sergeant's expression changed almost instantly.
"Where did you get that?"
"Daniel took it three weeks ago. Michael was helping him investigate something."
Miller reached for the phone.
Olivia pulled it away.
"Don't touch my property."
Miller stepped closer.
"Ma'am, I suggest you go home."
"Not until I see my brother."
At that moment, Ryan returned.
He was carrying a printed document.
"Sergeant, Lieutenant Hayes needs you upstairs."
Miller turned.
"Now?"
"Yes, sir."
Miller looked between them before walking away.
Ryan waited until he was gone.
Then he slipped the paper into Olivia's hand.
"Keep this somewhere safe."
She looked down.
It was a copy of Daniel's protected witness registration.
At the bottom was a date.
Three weeks earlier.
And beside the date was the name of the officer responsible for approving his protection.
Lieutenant Richard Hayes.
Olivia looked up.
"Why are you giving me this?"
Ryan lowered his voice.
"Because someone changed his status tonight. And I don't think it was an accident."
Olivia felt her stomach drop.
"Who would do that?"
Ryan looked toward the upper floor.
"I don't know yet."
Then he added something that made her blood run cold.
"But whoever did it knew exactly where your brother would be tonight."
A few minutes later, Olivia left the station.
She drove home in silence.
When she entered the apartment, she noticed that the front door was slightly open.
She was certain she had locked it.
She stepped inside carefully.
The living room looked normal.
The television was off. The furniture was untouched.
But something was missing.
Her laptop.
And the small black notebook Daniel always kept inside his desk.
Olivia rushed toward the bedroom.
On the mirror, written in black marker, were six words:
STOP LOOKING FOR WHAT IS NOT YOURS.
Her phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
She answered.
A man's voice spoke quietly.
"Your brother should have stayed out of this."
"Who is this?"
"You have one chance to protect your family."
"Where is Daniel?"
The man ignored her question.
"Forget Michael Reed. Forget the police investigation. And forget everything your brother told you."
Olivia's hands trembled.
Then the man delivered his final warning.
"Because if Daniel doesn't learn to stay quiet, you will be next."
The call ended.
Olivia stood frozen.
Then she looked toward the empty desk.
Daniel's notebook was gone.
And suddenly, she understood why someone had arrested her brother.
They weren't trying to punish him.
They were trying to find something.
Something he had hidden.
Morning arrived without bringing any relief.
Daniel had not slept.
At 6:30 a.m., Sergeant Miller returned to the interrogation room carrying two cups of coffee.
He placed one in front of Daniel.
"Long night?"
Daniel ignored the coffee.
"I want my lawyer."
Miller sat down.
"You're going to keep saying that?"
"Until someone listens."
Miller opened his folder.
"Fine. Let's talk about the evidence."
He placed a printed photograph on the table.
It showed a dark vehicle parked outside a warehouse.
"Do you recognize this car?"
"No."
"Think carefully."
"I don't know that vehicle."
Miller placed another photograph beside it.
This one showed a man wearing a gray sweatshirt standing near the warehouse entrance.
The image was grainy.
Daniel leaned forward.
"That's not me."
"The clothing looks familiar."
"A gray sweatshirt doesn't make someone me."
"Same height. Same build."
"Then check the cameras at my workplace."
Miller smiled.
"We already did."
Daniel looked up.
"And?"
"Your manager says you left work early."
Daniel frowned.
"That's impossible."
"That's what the report says."
"Call him again."
Miller closed the folder.
"We're done."
Daniel stood.
"You're lying."
Miller slowly looked up.
"Excuse me?"
"My manager would never say that. I was at work until eleven. There are cameras everywhere."
Miller rose from his chair.
"You should be careful about accusing officers of lying."
Daniel stepped back.
"I'm not accusing you. I'm telling you to check the facts."
The door opened.
Lieutenant Hayes entered.
"What's happening?"
Miller pointed toward Daniel.
"He's becoming difficult."
Hayes looked at Daniel.
"Mr. Carter, you're making this unnecessarily complicated."
Daniel shook his head.
"No. You're making it complicated. You know I didn't do this."
Hayes sat down.
"Let's discuss something else."
He removed a photograph from his jacket.
It showed Michael Reed.
Daniel's expression changed.
"Where did you get that?"
"Michael was a complicated man."
"He was trying to expose corruption."
Hayes nodded slowly.
"That's one way to describe him."
"He found evidence that city officials were stealing public money."
"Allegations."
"He had documents."
"Unverified documents."
"He had recordings."
Hayes leaned forward.
"Did he give you those recordings?"
Daniel said nothing.
The lieutenant smiled.
"That's what I thought."
Daniel's heart began to race.
They weren't just investigating him.
They were trying to locate Michael's evidence.
Hayes placed both hands on the table.
"Listen carefully. We can make this situation disappear."
"What do you mean?"
"You tell us where the documents are, and we reconsider the charges."
Daniel stared at him.
"What documents?"
Hayes sighed.
"Don't insult my intelligence."
Daniel slowly shook his head.
"I don't have anything."
"Then why did Michael contact you?"
"Because I was helping him."
"Helping him do what?"
"Find the truth."