She turned to Cole. " Why tell us this? " " Because I took an oath to protect and serve," Cole said. " Not to help corrupt men hide their crimes. " He headed for the door, then paused. "
Be careful. Bryce isn't just some politician. He has private security contractors on his payroll. After Cole left, Nia divided the evidence into separate packages, giving copies to Evelyn for safekeeping. " If anything happens, release everything to every media outlet on this list. "
Daniel checked his weapon while Tessa packed her camera gear. Outside, the witness network settled in for their night watch, determined to protect their neighbors from further intimidation. As the sun set behind the trees, Nia led Daniel and Tessa to her car. The warehouse was on the edge of town, far from streetlights and witnesses. Whatever they found there would have to be documented perfectly.
There wouldn't be a second chance. Evelyn stood in her doorway, straight-backed and resolute. " Remember what your father always said. Record everything. Trust your training, and never let them see fear. "
Nia nodded, then slipped behind the wheel. As they pulled away from the curb, porchlights clicked on up and down the street, silent signals of solidarity from neighbors refusing to look away. Darkness cloaked the industrial district as Nia crouched behind a stack of wooden pallets, her muscles tense from holding still. The abandoned warehouse loomed ahead, its broken windows like empty eye sockets in the dim security lighting. Daniel knelt beside her, while Tessa balanced her camera on a stabilizer, the lens focused on the loading dock. "
Movement," Daniel whispered, pointing to a black SUV rolling silently down the access road, headlights off. The vehicle stopped at the warehouse's side entrance. Sheriff Larkin stepped out, straightening his civilian jacket, and glancing around the empty lot. Behind him, an unmarked white van pulled up, its government plates visible in the weak light. Councilman Theodore Bryce emerged from the van's passenger side, his expensive suit incongruous against the decrepit setting.
Two men in tactical gear flanked him, their posture screaming private security training. " Recording. " Tessa breathed, her camera capturing every detail. Nia adjusted the directional microphone, aiming it carefully through a gap in the pallets. The audio feed crackled in her earpiece as Bryce and Larkin converged in the shadows. "
This is becoming expensive. " Bryce said, his cultured voice tight with irritation. " The Pentagon investigator was never supposed to surface. Now we have federal attention we can't afford. " " We can contain it. "
Larkin insisted. " Once we recover the drive. " " Once? " Bryce cut him off. " You assured me this morning's operation would secure everything.
Instead, you've managed to create exactly the kind of spectacle we've spent decades avoiding. " Daniel leaned closer to Nia, his voice barely audible. " He's running damage control. " " Brass Locust must still be active. " Larkin's response carried clearly through the microphone. "