And if that was true, the real person behind the operation was still hiding somewhere in the shadows.
Olivia closed the folder.
"Thomas, I want every communication between Harlan, Brooks, and Ethan Cole."
Walker nodded.
"Anything else?"
"Yes."
She looked toward the dark windows.
"Find out who sent me that photograph of my apartment."
Because whoever had taken it knew exactly where she lived.
And they knew exactly when to send it.
For the first time that night, Olivia felt something she had not experienced in years.
Not fear of the law.
Not fear of losing her career.
But fear that someone she trusted might already be working against her.
And before sunrise, she would discover that the conspiracy reached much further than the police department.
It reached into the very office where she had spent years fighting corruption.
Olivia Bennett had spent nearly ten years building a reputation as a prosecutor who never abandoned a case simply because the people involved were powerful. She had faced corrupt politicians, wealthy businessmen, dangerous criminals, and even senior officials who believed their positions made them untouchable.
But nothing in her career had prepared her for the possibility that someone inside the federal government was helping Robert Harlan destroy the investigation.
At 1:06 a.m., the secure conference room door opened.
Special Agent Walker entered carrying two cups of coffee and a thick stack of printed documents.
"You're going to want to see this," he said.
Olivia accepted the coffee but didn't drink it.
"What did you find?"
"Three separate communications between Harlan and someone inside the federal prosecutor's office."
She immediately looked up.
"Whose name?"
"That's where things get complicated."
Walker placed the documents on the table.
The first communication was an email sent from an encrypted account. The second was a financial transaction disguised as a consulting payment. The third was a short message exchanged less than twelve hours before the officers entered the nightclub.
Olivia read the message carefully.
The subject will be present tonight. Make sure she understands that the investigation must end.
Below it was a digital signature.
Michael Grant.
Olivia stopped breathing for a moment.
Michael Grant was the Assistant Director of the regional federal investigations division. He had been one of the first people to support her when she joined the office. He had recommended her for several major cases and had personally defended her when senior officials questioned her aggressive approach.
He was also one of the three people who knew where she would be spending the evening.
"Are you certain this account belongs to Grant?"
Walker nodded.
"We verified the account through two independent sources. But we haven't established who actually sent the message."
Olivia pushed the paper away.
"Michael knew where I was going."
"Yes."
"And he knew I was investigating Harlan."
"Yes."
"Then either he's involved, or someone has been using his credentials."
Walker pulled out another photograph.
It showed Grant leaving a restaurant with Robert Harlan.
The date was two months earlier.
Olivia studied it.
"Did we know about this meeting?"
"No."
"Did Grant disclose any personal relationship with Harlan?"
"Not that we could find."
She leaned back.
"How long has this been happening?"
"We're still reconstructing the timeline."
Olivia stood and walked toward the window.
The city was quiet beneath the early morning darkness.
She remembered Grant telling her that the Harlan investigation was becoming politically sensitive. He had advised her to slow down, avoid unnecessary confrontations, and allow the department to conduct its own internal review.
At the time, she had considered his advice reasonable.
Now she wondered whether he had been protecting her or protecting the people she was investigating.
"Thomas," she said, "I want to speak with him."
Walker immediately shook his head.
"Absolutely not."
"He's my colleague."
"That's precisely why you shouldn't approach him."
"If he knows we found the communications, he'll destroy evidence."
"We can secure his office."
"And alert him that we're watching him? No."
Walker crossed his arms.
"Olivia, somebody photographed your apartment tonight. Someone arranged for police officers to intimidate you. You received a direct threat. This is no longer a routine investigation."
She turned toward him.
"I understand that."
"Then stop treating it like one."
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Finally, Olivia nodded.
"All right. We do this your way."
Walker looked relieved.
"But there's one thing I need you to understand," she continued. "If Michael is involved, I want evidence that proves it. I won't destroy someone's career based on a photograph and an encrypted message."
"Agreed."
"And I won't let him know we're investigating him until we have enough evidence to move."
Walker picked up the documents.
"Then we'd better work quickly."