The document stated that she had been assigned to investigate the death of James Holloway three years before the current operation.
But Emily had never worked on that case.
She had never received such an assignment.
And she had never signed the document.
She looked at the signature again.
It was almost identical to hers.
Almost.
"Who gave you this?" she asked.
The woman looked at Marcus.
"Director Price."
Emily turned toward him.
"Marcus?"
He didn't answer.
She held up the document.
"Why does this say I investigated Holloway's death three years ago?"
Marcus looked at her for a long moment.
Then he lowered his eyes.
"Because someone wanted your name attached to the case before you ever knew it existed."
Emily felt her heartbeat quicken.
"Who?"
Marcus slowly raised his head.
"Me."
The words landed harder than anything she had heard that day.
Emily stared at him.
"What?"
Marcus took a breath.
"Three years ago, I signed an authorization allowing a confidential investigator to review the Holloway evidence."
"Who?"
He looked directly at her.
"Your name was used."
"But I didn't sign anything."
"I know."
"Then why did you allow it?"
Marcus's voice dropped.
"Because I was told it was an administrative procedure."
"By whom?"
He hesitated.
"Samuel Price."
Emily shook her head.
"You're telling me you signed an investigation under my name without my knowledge?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
Marcus looked toward the black SUV.
"Because I believed it was the only way to protect the original evidence."
Emily stepped back.
"Protect it from whom?"
Marcus finally answered.
"From the people who wanted it destroyed."
The woman with the briefcase watched silently.
Laura approached.
"What's happening?"
Emily didn't look away from Marcus.
"Tell me everything."
Marcus's expression was heavy.
"Three years ago, Holloway's death was classified as an internal incident. I reviewed the preliminary evidence and found discrepancies. I wanted an independent investigation, but Price told me the case had already been compromised."
"Then why didn't you report it?"
"I tried."
"What happened?"
"He showed me documents proving that the original evidence had been altered before it reached federal custody."
Emily stared.
"By whom?"
Marcus looked toward the woman.
"By people inside our own agency."
The woman opened her briefcase.
She removed another folder.
"This is the original chain-of-custody record."
Emily took it.
Her eyes moved across the page.
The signatures were visible.
The dates were clear.
And one name appeared repeatedly.
Samuel Price.
But another name appeared beneath it.
Marcus Reed.
Emily looked up.
"You were involved."
Marcus nodded slowly.
"I was."
"Did you take money?"
"No."
"Did you help alter the evidence?"
"No."
"Then what did you do?"
Marcus's face tightened.
"I signed a document that allowed the case to remain sealed while I tried to identify everyone involved."
Emily's voice became colder.
"And you never told me?"
"I couldn't."
"Why?"
"Because the person who authorized the operation was the same person who had access to your personnel records, your schedule, and your assignment history."
Emily looked down at the document.
She finally understood why her arrest had happened so quickly.
Why Brooks had known she was at the storage facility.
Why Hayes had been waiting.
Why the department seemed to know every move the federal team made.
The corruption wasn't simply a network of officers protecting one another.
It was a network that had been operating for years.
And her name had been used as part of its cover.
She looked at Marcus.
"Did you know they were going to use my identity?"
"No."
"Did you know someone would arrest me?"
"No."
"Did you know Price was involved?"
Marcus hesitated.
"I suspected."
Emily shook her head.
"Suspected?"
"I was waiting for proof."
"And while you were waiting, they nearly killed Bell."
Marcus lowered his eyes.
She stepped away.
For the first time, she didn't know whether she could trust the man standing in front of her.
Laura approached cautiously.
"Emily, we need to secure that document."
Emily handed it over.
Then she looked at the woman.
"What's your name?"
"Karen Mitchell."
"Are you working for Price?"
Karen shook her head.
"No. I was his assistant until this morning."
"Why did you bring this to us?"
Karen looked at Marcus.
"Because I found out what happened to James Holloway."
Emily waited.
Karen continued.
"Price ordered the original evidence destroyed. But someone made a copy. He kept it hidden for three years."
"Who?"
Karen looked at Marcus.
"Mr. Reed."
Emily turned sharply.
Marcus said nothing.
Karen opened the final compartment of her briefcase.
Inside was a small digital recorder.
"Mr. Reed gave me this before he left the office."
Emily stared at him.
"What is it?"
Marcus looked at her.
"The recording of the original meeting."
"Which meeting?"
"The meeting where Price ordered the evidence to be altered."
Emily's expression changed.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Marcus looked exhausted.
"Because I wanted to be certain I could protect you before I brought you into it."
Emily shook her head.
"You don't get to decide what I deserve to know."
"I know."
"Do you?"
He didn't answer.
She took the recorder.
The device was old, scratched, and slightly damaged.
But it could still be played.
Karen pressed the button.
A crackling sound filled the air.
Then a man's voice emerged.
It was unmistakably Samuel Price.
"We cannot allow the Holloway case to proceed."
Another voice responded.
"What about the evidence?"
"Change the inventory."
"That's not going to be easy."
"Then make it easy."
A pause.
Then another voice spoke.
"Marcus won't agree."
Price laughed.
"Marcus will do exactly what I tell him."
Emily looked at Marcus.
The recording continued.