"We use that."
Marcus looked at her.
"You're not going alone."
"I wasn't planning to."
He smiled faintly.
"Good."
A few minutes later, Laura received confirmation that the storage complex's owner had been contacted by someone from the federal office.
Emily turned toward her.
"Who?"
Laura looked at the screen.
"Samuel Price."
The room went silent.
Marcus stood.
"How long ago?"
"Seven minutes."
Emily stared at the screen.
"He's warning them."
Marcus nodded.
"Which means the ledger may already be in danger."
He looked at Laura.
"Call the tactical team. We're moving now."
At 11:32 a.m., federal agents approached the storage complex from two directions.
Emily and Marcus entered through the service road.
The gate was partially open.
There were no security guards visible.
That made Emily uncomfortable.
She looked toward the nearest building.
"Something's wrong."
Marcus nodded.
"Stay behind me."
They moved along the narrow corridor between the storage units.
Unit 0417 was at the far end.
The lock was missing.
The door was slightly open.
Marcus raised his hand.
Everyone stopped.
He looked through the gap.
The interior was empty except for a metal cabinet and a folding chair.
Emily stepped forward.
"That's it."
Marcus opened the door.
The cabinet stood against the back wall.
Its surface was scratched.
A small combination lock hung from the handle.
Emily examined it.
"Do we have the combination?"
Marcus shook his head.
"Not yet."
She looked at the key in his hand.
"Try it."
He inserted the key.
It turned.
The cabinet opened.
Inside was a thick black binder.
Beneath it were several envelopes and a small digital recorder.
Emily picked up the binder.
The first page contained a list of names.
She recognized almost every one.
Brooks.
Hayes.
Wallace.
Voss.
And several individuals she had not previously encountered.
One name appeared at the top of the list.
Samuel Price.
Emily froze.
Marcus looked over her shoulder.
"What?"
She pointed.
"He's not just leaking information."
Marcus read the entry.
It listed several payments made to Price through a consulting company registered in another state.
The amounts were enormous.
One payment was for $75,000.
Another was for $120,000.
A third was labeled as a special advisory fee.
Emily slowly closed the binder.
"This is the evidence we needed."
Marcus nodded.
"Secure it."
An agent placed the materials inside an evidence container.
Then a sound came from outside.
A vehicle engine.
Emily turned toward the entrance.
Marcus immediately raised his hand.
"Nobody moves."
Through the open door, they saw a black SUV approaching.
It stopped near the service entrance.
The driver's door opened.
A man stepped out.
Robert Hayes.
He looked toward the storage units.
Then he saw the federal agents.
For a moment, he stood completely still.
Then he turned and ran.
"Federal agents! Stop!"
Hayes sprinted between the buildings.
Two agents pursued him.
Marcus moved toward the exit.
Emily followed.
Hayes reached the rear fence and attempted to climb over it.
An agent caught his jacket.
He struggled.
Another officer grabbed his arm.
Within seconds, Hayes was on the ground in handcuffs.
"Get off me!"
The agent secured his wrists.
"You're under arrest."
Hayes turned his head.
His eyes found Emily.
"You have no idea what you've done."
Emily approached.
"I think I do."
He laughed bitterly.
"You think that ledger is enough?"
"It is a start."
"You think Price is the only one?"
Emily stopped.
Hayes looked at her.
"Ask your director."
Marcus stepped forward.
"That's enough."
Hayes smiled.
"Ask him what happened to the original Holloway report."
Emily felt a chill.
"What are you talking about?"
Hayes laughed.
"Ask him why the first report disappeared."
Marcus's expression changed.
"Take him."
The agents escorted Hayes toward the SUV.
Emily remained still.
"Marcus."
He turned.
"Don't."
"He's talking about the Holloway case."
"I heard him."
"What if Price was involved in more than the leak?"
Marcus looked toward the vehicle.
"We'll find out."
At that moment, Emily's phone vibrated.
It was an unknown number.
She looked at the screen.
A message appeared.
You found the ledger. Congratulations.
A second message followed.
Now ask Marcus Reed what he signed three years ago.
Emily stared at the screen.
Then slowly looked toward Marcus.
He was standing beside the SUV, speaking with Laura.
She had worked with him for six years.
Trusted him.
Followed his instructions.
And now someone was suggesting that he might be connected to the very case that had started this investigation.
Emily walked toward him.
"Marcus?"
He turned.
"What is it?"
She showed him the message.
He read it.
For the first time since she had met him, he looked genuinely afraid.
Not confused.
Not surprised.
Afraid.
Emily took a step back.
"What's going on?"
Marcus stared at the phone.
Then he looked toward the road.
A black sedan had stopped outside the storage complex.
Its windows were tinted.
The rear door opened.
A woman stepped out.
She was in her late forties, wearing a dark coat and carrying a leather briefcase.
Emily recognized her from the photograph in the federal personnel database.
Deputy Director Samuel Price's executive assistant.
But there was something else.
She was holding an envelope.
And as she approached them, she spoke the words that made Emily's blood run cold.
"Investigator Carter, Director Price asked me to deliver something to you."
Emily looked at the envelope.
"What is it?"
The woman held it out.
"Your original assignment file."
Emily took it slowly.
She opened the envelope.
Inside was a document bearing her signature.
Her name.
Her authorization number.
And a date from three years earlier.
She read the first paragraph.
Then the second.
Her hands went cold.