Platform 4 was deserted.
A man sat on a bench.
He was in his early sixties, wearing a dark coat and a baseball cap.
His face was partially hidden.
Carter approached.
"Are you the person who contacted me?"
The man looked up.
"Officer Carter?"
"Yes."
The man nodded.
"Sit down."
Carter remained standing.
"Who are you?"
The man slowly removed his cap.
Carter recognized him immediately.
"James Miller?"
The former officer nodded.
Carter stared.
"You've been missing for six months."
Miller looked exhausted.
"That's what they wanted people to believe."
"Where have you been?"
"Somewhere they couldn't find me."
Carter sat down.
"Why didn't you contact anyone?"
Miller gave a bitter laugh.
"Because the last person I contacted was the person who arranged my disappearance."
Carter's expression hardened.
"Whitaker?"
Miller shook his head.
"Whitaker is just a middleman."
"Then who?"
Miller looked around the terminal.
Then he leaned closer.
"Deputy Commissioner Hayes."
Carter stared at him.
"You're certain?"
"I have the records."
"What records?"
Miller reached inside his coat.
He removed a small USB drive.
"This contains the transportation logs, financial transfers, and the original prison movement orders."
Carter accepted it.
"Why give this to me?"
Miller looked directly into his eyes.
"Because you're the only officer at Blackwood who hasn't been bought."
Carter shook his head.
"You don't know that."
Miller smiled faintly.
"I've been watching you."
Carter frowned.
"What?"
"Your reports. Your disciplinary records. The complaints you submitted. The things you refused to ignore."
Miller paused.
"You're exactly the kind of officer they don't want working there."
Carter looked down at the USB drive.
"What's on it?"
Miller leaned closer.
"The reason Tank Reynolds controls the prison."
Carter looked up.
Miller continued.
"Reynolds isn't just an inmate."
"Then what is he?"
Miller's expression became serious.
"He's the person who manages the money, the information, and the people inside Blackwood."
Carter stared at him.
"How?"
Miller took a slow breath.
"Because the prison was never designed to keep him powerless."
He paused.
"It was designed to keep him protected."
CHAPTER 9 — THE REAL REASON TANK WAS IN PRISON
James Miller opened a second folder.
Inside were photographs of financial records, prison documents, and several official correspondence files.
Carter began examining them.
The first document showed a company registered under Tank Reynolds's name.
The second showed payments to correctional officers.
The third showed a series of unauthorized inmate transfers.
Carter looked up.
"What's the connection?"
Miller answered quietly.
"Before Reynolds was convicted, he ran a private security and transportation business."
Carter examined the documents.
"Transportation?"
"Government transportation contracts. Prisoner transfers. Secure logistics. Things like that."
Carter frowned.
"Then why was he convicted?"
"Because the company was involved in illegal prisoner transportation."
Carter looked at the photographs again.
Miller continued.
"But the investigation never uncovered the entire operation."
"Why?"
"Because some of the people who were supposed to investigate it were receiving money."
Carter looked at the list.
Several names appeared.
One belonged to a senior correctional administrator.
Another belonged to a state contractor.
And the final name was the one he had already discovered.
Deputy Commissioner Robert Hayes.
Carter slowly put the documents down.
"How does this connect to the missing inmates?"
Miller leaned back.
"Some inmates were being transferred to private facilities that weren't properly registered. Others were moved to locations where they could work for contractors under unauthorized arrangements."
Carter looked horrified.
"You're saying people were being moved without official records?"
"Yes."
"How many?"
Miller hesitated.
"At least eleven that I can confirm."
Carter stared at him.
"Eleven?"
"Possibly more."
He pointed toward the documents.
"Reynolds knew the transportation routes. Whitaker controlled access to the prison. And Hayes provided political protection."
Carter looked at the USB drive.
"Then why keep Reynolds inside Blackwood?"