The recording ended with a loud impact.
Then silence.
Eleanor covered her mouth.
For twenty years, she had imagined countless possibilities about what happened to her husband.
Now she had heard his final recorded conversation.
Walker carefully removed the cassette.
"Your Honor, this is important evidence."
Eleanor nodded.
"I know."
Olivia looked at her.
"Why didn't you give this to investigators years ago?"
"Because the first detective I approached disappeared. The second told me there was no case. The third warned me that my children might become targets if I continued."
Eleanor's eyes filled with tears.
"I had two young children. I had already lost my husband. I couldn't risk losing them too."
Olivia gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
"You did what you believed was necessary to protect your family."
Eleanor nodded.
"But now I want the truth."
Olivia placed the cassette inside an evidence container.
"Then we'll get it."
Before they could continue, Walker's phone vibrated.
He checked the screen.
A message from one of his agents.
EMERGENCY. DIRECTOR REYNOLDS HAS ISSUED AN ARREST ORDER FOR OLIVIA BENNETT.
Walker immediately looked up.
"We need to leave."
Eleanor frowned.
"What happened?"
"Reynolds has issued an arrest order."
Olivia remained calm.
"On what grounds?"
"Alleged obstruction of justice, evidence tampering, and receiving illegal payments."
Eleanor stood.
"Those accusations are fabricated."
"I know," Walker replied.
"Then I can issue an order preventing her arrest until the allegations are examined."
Olivia shook her head.
"Your Honor, that could compromise your position."
Eleanor looked at her.
"My position?"
She gave a bitter smile.
"I have spent twenty years watching powerful people use their positions to escape accountability. I'm not going to hide behind mine now."
At 4:05 p.m., two federal vehicles arrived outside the courthouse.
A group of agents entered the building.
Their leader was Assistant Director Michael Grant.
He walked through the lobby with the confidence of someone who believed the entire building belonged to him.
When he reached the fourth floor, he found Olivia standing outside the judge's chambers.
For several seconds, they simply stared at one another.
Then Grant smiled.
"Olivia. What a surprise."
She returned his gaze.
"Michael."
"I heard you've had a difficult day."
"Nothing compared to yours, I imagine."
Grant laughed.
"You're still making jokes. That's good."
He looked toward Walker.
"Agent Walker, I need you to step aside."
Walker didn't move.
Grant produced an official document.
"I have authorization to take Olivia Bennett into custody."
Olivia examined the paper.
"Who signed it?"
"Director Reynolds."
"On what evidence?"
"That's not your concern."
"Actually, it is."
Grant lowered his voice.
"Olivia, I think you've made enough mistakes. Come quietly, and we can discuss everything."
She looked at him.
"Is that what you told Daniel Whitmore twenty years ago?"
For the first time, Grant's smile disappeared.
"What?"
Olivia took one step forward.
"Daniel Whitmore. The journalist who disappeared after investigating Robert Harlan."
Grant stared at her.
Then his expression hardened.
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Really?"
She held up a photograph.
It showed Grant standing beside Harlan twenty years earlier.
Grant looked at it for less than a second.
Then he looked directly into her eyes.
"Where did you get that?"
"From someone who kept the truth."
Grant's jaw tightened.
Behind Olivia, the door to Eleanor's chambers opened.
The judge stepped into the hallway.
"Assistant Director Grant."
He turned.
"Your Honor."
"I believe you have some explaining to do."
Grant forced a polite smile.
"I'm afraid I don't have time for this."
"You will make time."
Eleanor held up the cassette recorder.
"Do you recognize this?"
Grant looked at it.
His face changed.
For a moment, the powerful federal official appeared genuinely frightened.
Then he recovered.
"An old recording proves nothing."
"Perhaps," Eleanor replied. "But I believe the original documents will prove considerably more."
Grant looked toward the agents behind him.
"Take Bennett into custody."
Nobody moved.
He repeated the order.
"Did you hear me?"
One of the agents stepped forward.
"Sir, we need to verify the authorization."
Grant turned sharply.
"I'm your superior."
"Yes, sir. But the warrant still needs to be verified."
Olivia watched him carefully.
His authority was beginning to weaken.
And he knew it.
Grant took out his phone and made a call.
"Reynolds. We have a problem."
He listened.
Then he looked at Olivia.
"You think you've won?"
"No."
She paused.
"I think you've finally realized that you can be investigated too."
Grant moved closer.
"Be careful, Olivia. You have no idea how many people will suffer if you keep pushing."
"Are you threatening me again?"
"I'm warning you."
"Then let me warn you about something."