When Victoria returned to the hearing room after the recess, his seat was empty.
Senator Callahan had also left.
Sarah approached her.
“He was escorted through a private corridor.”
“By whom?”
“Three members of the federal security unit.”
“Did they have a warrant?”
“No. They claimed they were moving him to a protected location.”
Victoria's jaw tightened.
“Where?”
“They haven't provided an address.”
Victoria immediately contacted the independent prosecutor.
“Harlan is being moved by a security unit that may be compromised. We need an emergency order stopping the transfer.”
“We're working on it.”
“Work faster.”
She ended the call.
Sarah looked at her.
“What if they get him out of the city?”
“They won't.”
Victoria opened the notebook recovered from Blackwood and searched through the final pages.
There were several handwritten locations, payment references, and initials. One entry caught her attention.
R.H. — Protection transfer — Meridian Facility.
She showed it to Sarah.
“Do you know this place?”
Sarah checked her tablet.
“Meridian is an old federal records and communications center outside Arlington. It was decommissioned several years ago.”
“Why would a security unit take Harlan there?”
“Maybe because it's outside the normal detention system.”
Victoria studied the entry.
“Or because Wallace used it as a meeting point.”
Sarah checked the notebook again.
There were three payments associated with the facility, all made through a company connected to Donovan.
Victoria made her decision.
“Get a team ready.”
Sarah hesitated.
“We need authorization.”
“We have evidence of an unauthorized transfer, an active conspiracy, and a possible attempt to obstruct an arrest warrant.”
“That's not the same as a signed order.”
Victoria looked at her.
“Then get the prosecutor on the line while we move.”
The Meridian facility stood behind a tall concrete wall at the end of a quiet service road.
Its windows were dark. A rusted sign near the entrance still carried the faded name of the government department that had once operated there.
Two black vehicles were parked outside.
Victoria's team approached from the southern access road while another group secured the northern entrance.
“Surveillance reports movement inside,” Sarah said.
“How many people?”
“Four confirmed. Possibly more.”
Victoria checked her weapon.
“Let's find Harlan.”
The agents entered through a side door.
Inside, the building smelled of dust and old electrical equipment. A narrow hallway led toward a large communications room. At the far end, a light was visible beneath a closed door.
An agent signaled that the area was clear.
Victoria approached.
She heard voices inside.
One belonged to Richard Harlan.
The other was unfamiliar.
“Donovan has been arrested,” Harlan said. “The agreement is finished.”
A second voice replied.
“You don't get to decide that.”
“I have enough information to destroy everyone involved.”
“Then perhaps you should have thought about that before you signed the authorization.”
Victoria recognized the voice.
Thomas Miller.
She signaled to the agents.
They opened the door.
“Federal agents! Nobody move!”
Harlan turned sharply.
Miller reached toward his jacket but stopped when three weapons were pointed at him.
Victoria entered.
“Richard Harlan. Step away from the table.”
Harlan stared at her.
“You have no idea what you're doing.”
“I'm arresting you.”
“On whose authority?”
Victoria held up the warrant.
“An independent federal prosecutor. The same authority that authorized Donovan's arrest.”
Harlan glanced toward Miller.
For a brief moment, something passed between them.
Then Miller raised both hands.
“I want to cooperate.”
Harlan laughed bitterly.
“Of course you do.”
Miller ignored him.
“I have the original payment records. I can prove that Harlan authorized the witness intimidation program.”
Victoria approached.
“Where are the records?”
“On the computer. But there's something else you need to know.”
“What?”
Miller looked at Harlan.
“He didn't just know about your father's death. He was there that night.”
Victoria felt the air leave her lungs.
“What?”
Miller nodded.
“I was working with Wallace. We were assigned to follow James Bennett. The night of the accident, Harlan ordered us to intercept him before he reached the inspector general.”
Victoria's voice became dangerously quiet.
“Did Harlan arrange the accident?”
Miller looked down.
“I didn't see the vehicle strike your father. But I heard the conversation afterward. Wallace said the problem had been taken care of. Harlan told him to make sure the official report showed no evidence of outside involvement.”
Harlan stepped forward.
“That's a lie!”
An agent ordered him back.
Miller continued.
“There is a recording. I kept it because I knew one day I might need protection.”
Victoria stared at him.
“Where is it?”
“On the computer. Hidden inside an encrypted archive.”
Sarah moved toward the workstation.
“Don't touch anything until our technicians arrive.”