“Your father discovered that prisoners were being moved through unofficial routes. Some were being sold to private detention operators. Others were being transferred to facilities that didn't officially exist.”
Carter felt sick.
“And you helped him?”
“At first, no. I was making money from the same network. Your father found out and gave me a choice.”
“What choice?”
“Help him expose the operation, or become part of it forever.”
Tank paused.
“I chose to help him.”
“Then why did you go to prison?”
“Because your father was killed before he could finish the investigation. Whitaker needed someone to blame. I was already a criminal, so they built the case around me.”
Carter looked at the photograph again.
“Why did my mother say my father trusted you?”
Tank's eyes hardened.
“Because he gave me something.”
“What?”
Tank reached into his uniform and removed a small envelope.
He handed it to Carter.
Inside was a handwritten note.
The handwriting was unmistakable.
Carter recognized it from birthday cards, old letters, and the notes his father used to leave on the kitchen table.
Daniel, if you are reading this, then I failed to come home.
Carter's fingers trembled.
He unfolded the note.
There are people inside the system who have built their fortunes on the suffering of prisoners. They will call me a liar. They will call Marcus a criminal. They will tell you the evidence doesn't exist.
Don't believe them.
The truth is beneath Blackwood.
At the bottom was one final sentence.
And the man you must find is not the man you think.
Carter looked up.
“What does that mean?”
Tank's face became grim.
“It means your father knew who was behind everything.”
“Who?”
Tank looked toward the door.
Then he said quietly:
“Your father wasn't investigating Whitaker.”
Carter's stomach tightened.
“He was investigating someone above him.”
“Who?”
Tank took a step closer.
“Someone who is still running this prison.”
A loud metallic crash sounded from the hallway.
Blake turned.
“Someone's coming.”
Tank grabbed the photograph from Carter's hand.
“There's no time. You need to get to the archive.”
“Grant said it had been moved.”
“He was right.”
“Then where is it?”
Tank looked at him.
“Under the warden's office.”
Carter stared.
Tank continued.
“There's an old vault beneath Whitaker's office. Your father hid the original evidence there before he died.”
“Why didn't you retrieve it?”
“Because the vault requires two keys.”
Carter looked at the brass key in his pocket.
Tank nodded.
“Your father kept one.”
“Who has the other?”
Tank looked toward the hallway.
Then he answered.
“Thomas Whitaker.”
The door handle began to turn.
Tank stepped back.
“Now you understand why they want us both dead.”
The door opened.
A familiar voice filled the room.
“That's enough.”
Deputy Commissioner Hayes stood in the doorway.
Behind him were four armed officers.
But Hayes wasn't looking at Tank.
He was looking directly at Carter.
“Put the key on the table, Daniel.”
Carter didn't move.
Hayes smiled.
“You really should have listened to your father.”
Tank stepped between them.
“Don't touch him.”
Hayes raised his hand.
The officers lifted their weapons.
Then Hayes delivered the sentence that made Carter's blood run cold.
“Your father didn't die because he discovered the prison operation.”
He paused.
“He died because he discovered who ordered it.”
Carter stared at him.
“Who?”
Hayes looked past Carter.
Toward the open doorway.
Someone else had entered.
Someone wearing a correctional uniform.
Someone Carter had trusted for eight years.
Officer Blake.
Blake slowly raised his weapon.
And pointed it at Carter.
End of Part 2.
The next part will reveal why Blake's family has been connected to the prison operation for years, what is hidden beneath Whitaker's office, and the identity of the person who ordered Samuel Carter's death.