“My name is Helen Carter. I'm the county prosecutor.”
Victoria turned in surprise.
Helen had been working with the investigation for weeks, but she had not told Victoria she intended to appear.
“I have a statement regarding the missing financial records and the involvement of county officials,” Helen continued.
Callahan frowned.
“Is this related to the investigation currently under review?”
“Yes, Senator. It is directly related.”
Helen approached the table and placed a document before the committee.
“For the past three years, my office received repeated complaints about missing public funds and altered law-enforcement records. Several of those complaints were closed without investigation. I recently discovered that the closure instructions came from an administrative account associated with Richard Harlan's office.”
Harlan turned toward her.
“That's impossible.”
Helen ignored him.
“I also discovered that a county employee attempted to deliver the original financial ledger to my office two years ago. The employee was intercepted before the documents could be received.”
Victoria watched Helen carefully.
“Who was the employee?”
“Margaret Ellis.”
A murmur spread through the room.
Helen continued.
“She was instructed to return the ledger to Edward Lang. When she refused, her personnel file was altered, and she was threatened with disciplinary action.”
Victoria looked at Harlan.
“Is that the kind of internal disagreement you were referring to?”
Harlan did not respond.
Helen handed the committee another document.
“This is a signed affidavit from Margaret Ellis. It describes the pressure placed on her and confirms that the signatures on the foundation records were forged.”
Callahan read the affidavit.
His expression changed.
“Why was this not presented earlier?”
“Because the witness was afraid for her safety,” Helen replied. “She is now under federal protection.”
Victoria looked at Sarah.
Sarah gave a small nod.
Margaret had finally been heard.
And this time, nobody could quietly remove her statement from the record.
The hearing was interrupted when a security officer approached Senator Callahan and whispered something in his ear.
Callahan's face turned pale.
He leaned toward the committee clerk.
“Please recess for ten minutes.”
Victoria watched as the senator left the room with two security officers.
Sarah moved closer.
“What happened?”
“I don't know.”
A moment later, Victoria's phone vibrated.
It was a message from the independent prosecutor.
Arrest warrants have been approved. Teams are moving now.
Victoria read it twice.
Then another message appeared.
Donovan's private aircraft has been located. It is preparing for departure from a regional airport.
Victoria immediately called the prosecutor.
“Charles Donovan is trying to leave.”
“We know. Federal agents are already moving toward the airport.”
“Do you have authority to detain him?”
“Yes. The warrant was signed five minutes ago.”
Victoria looked toward the hearing room doors.
“Make sure he doesn't get away.”
The prosecutor paused.
“Director, there is another issue.”
“What?”
“Richard Harlan has been placed under temporary administrative protection by a federal security unit. We are trying to establish who authorized it.”
Victoria's expression tightened.
“Which unit?”
The prosecutor gave her the name.
It was the same unit that had employed Thomas Miller before he became an investigator.
Victoria looked at Sarah.
“We have a problem.”
Sarah understood immediately.
“Someone is helping Harlan escape.”
At the regional airport, Charles Donovan was already aboard his private aircraft.
His pilot had been instructed to prepare for immediate departure. Two men stood near the stairs, watching the hangar entrance.
Donovan checked his watch.
“Why are we still here?”
One of the men approached.
“There's a delay with the flight authorization.”
“Fix it.”
“The airport has received a federal alert.”
Donovan's face darkened.
“Then we're leaving without authorization.”
The pilot appeared in the doorway.
“Sir, I can't take off until I receive clearance.”
Donovan turned toward him.
“You've been paid to fly this aircraft.”
“I've also been told that the authorities may seize it.”
Donovan stepped closer.
“Do you know how much money I have invested in this operation?”
The pilot shook his head.
“I don't care.”
Before Donovan could answer, several vehicles entered the airport.
Federal agents emerged and moved toward the aircraft.
“Charles Donovan! Step away from the stairs!”
Donovan looked toward his security men.
Neither moved.
For a moment, he seemed to consider running.
Then he raised his hands.
An agent approached and read the warrant.
“Mr. Donovan, you are under arrest on suspicion of conspiracy, financial fraud, obstruction of justice, and witness intimidation.”
Donovan looked at the aircraft.
Then he laughed.
“You think this is over?”
The agent placed handcuffs around his wrists.
“No, sir. I think it's beginning.”
Back in Washington, Harlan had disappeared.