She walked away before Elena could respond.
Daniel watched her leave.
“She knows something.”
Elena nodded.
“And she's frightened.”
Ten minutes later, Evelyn sat opposite them in a quiet café.
She had ordered tea but had not touched it.
Elena placed a photograph on the table.
It showed Thomas Reed standing beside a young Rebecca outside a school building.
“Do you recognize this man?”
Evelyn stared at the photograph.
Her eyes began to fill.
“Yes.”
“Did he come to Westbridge?”
“Yes.”
“Under what name?”
Evelyn looked around.
“Before I answer, I need to know whether the people involved are still in power.”
Elena considered the question.
“Some of them are. But they are now under investigation.”
Evelyn gave a bitter laugh.
“Investigation. That's what they called it when I tried to report what happened.”
“What happened?”
Evelyn folded her hands.
“Thomas Reed arrived at Westbridge in the middle of the night. He was injured. He was conscious, but barely. Two men brought him in. They said he had been involved in an accident and needed to be kept under observation.”
“Were they police officers?”
“One was wearing a police jacket. The other was in plain clothes.”
“Did they identify themselves?”
“No.”
“Was there an admission form?”
Evelyn shook her head.
“They gave us a document with a false name. The doctor on duty refused to question them because they said the case was connected to a confidential government operation.”
Elena leaned forward.
“Did you treat Thomas?”
“Yes. He had several injuries. A fractured rib, a head wound, and severe bruising.”
“Did he tell you what happened?”
Evelyn nodded.
“He said he had been taken somewhere against his will. He kept asking for his wife and daughter.”
Rebecca's name was not mentioned, but Elena understood.
“Did he say who had taken him?”
“He said there were men from the police department. He also said someone from City Hall had ordered them to make him disappear.”
Elena took notes.
“How long did he remain at Westbridge?”
“Six days.”
“What happened after that?”
Evelyn looked down.
“On the seventh day, a man came to the facility. He had a letter signed by the medical director. Thomas was transferred to another location.”
“Where?”
“I don't know.”
“Did you see the transfer document?”
“Yes. I kept a copy.”
Elena's attention sharpened.
“Do you still have it?”
Evelyn nodded.
“But I need protection before I give it to you.”
“We can arrange that.”
Evelyn looked at her.
“You don't understand. They killed a man because he knew too much. They threatened me, paid me, and made me sign a confidentiality agreement. When I tried to resign, someone came to my house and told me that my son could have an accident.”
Elena's expression hardened.
“Who threatened you?”
Evelyn looked directly at her.
“Mayor Caldwell's personal security adviser.”
Back in Brookhaven, Mayor Caldwell was receiving increasingly alarming reports.
The state investigators had secured the records building. Mercer was alive. Rebecca Reed had resurfaced. Evelyn Shaw had been located.
The mayor stood in front of a large map of the city.
Victor Hale entered without knocking.
“We have a problem.”
Caldwell turned.
“I know.”
“Evelyn Shaw has been contacted.”
“By whom?”
“Ramirez's team.”
“Did they get anything?”
“We don't know yet.”
Caldwell walked to his desk.
“Then find out.”
Hale hesitated.
“There's another issue.”
“What?”
“Mitchell is talking.”
The mayor's expression tightened.
“Talking to whom?”
“The state prosecutor.”
“About what?”
“Everything.”
Caldwell slammed his hand against the desk.
“That fool.”
Hale remained still.
“Mitchell says he has documents that connect you directly to the Reed operation.”
“Then those documents are worthless.”
“Not if they can be authenticated.”
Caldwell stared at him.
“Where is Mitchell?”
“Under protective custody.”
“Then we need to get to him before he gives a formal statement.”
Hale looked uncomfortable.
“That's no longer possible.”
“Why?”
“Because the state has moved him to an undisclosed location.”
Caldwell paced across the office.
For years, he had relied on Mitchell to keep the department under control. When complaints emerged, Mitchell handled them. When officers crossed the line, Mitchell adjusted the reports. When witnesses became difficult, Mitchell found ways to make them disappear from the process.
Now Mitchell was turning against him.
Caldwell picked up his phone.
“Call Peter Lang.”
Hale did.
The lawyer answered almost immediately.
“Richard?”
“We need to discuss the emergency.”
Lang's voice sounded tired.
“There is no emergency strategy left. You need to cooperate.”
“Don't start lecturing me.”