“A neighbor said he left around two in the morning carrying a small bag. He looked upset.”
Elena joined them.
“Did he take his phone?”
“His main phone is switched off.”
Marcus felt a chill run through him.
“Check his access to the investigation files.”
Daniel nodded and began working.
A moment later, his expression changed.
“Someone downloaded the Cedar Ridge documents from the secure server at 2:13 a.m.”
“Whose credentials?” Elena asked.
Daniel looked up.
“David Reynolds.”
Marcus said nothing.
Elena slowly turned toward him.
“Marcus, we need to consider the possibility that David has been compromised.”
Marcus shook his head.
“David helped us uncover half of this case.”
“That doesn't mean he couldn't have been pressured.”
“He wouldn't betray us.”
Elena's voice remained calm.
“People don't always betray others because they want to. Sometimes they're threatened. Sometimes they're manipulated. Sometimes they believe they're protecting someone.”
Marcus looked at the empty chair where David usually sat.
“Find him.”
At 8:05 a.m., David arrived at a small private parking lot near the edge of Brookhaven.
A black SUV was waiting.
Commissioner Harrington sat in the passenger seat.
David approached the vehicle but did not get inside.
“You said you would tell me what happened to Michael.”
Harrington opened the door.
“Get in.”
“No. Tell me now.”
Harrington looked around.
“Don't make a scene.”
David held up a folder.
“I brought the documents you asked for.”
“Good.”
“But I want something in return.”
Harrington smiled faintly.
“You're not in a position to negotiate.”
“Then we're wasting our time.”
Harrington studied him.
Finally, he gestured toward the back seat.
“Get in.”
David entered.
The SUV pulled away.
For several minutes, they drove without speaking.
Then Harrington opened a thin folder and handed David a photograph.
David looked at it.
His face changed.
It showed Michael Reynolds standing outside the old municipal records building with Thomas Reed.
The photograph had been taken less than a month before Michael died.
David looked up.
“Where did you get this?”
“From the original investigation.”
“You told me Michael had nothing to do with Reed.”
“I told you he wasn't directly involved in the redevelopment investigation.”
“You lied.”
Harrington looked out the window.
“Your brother was investigating missing financial records. He discovered that someone had used a city vehicle to transport documents from the redevelopment office to the warehouse.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because he was killed before he could complete his investigation.”
David's hands began to tremble.
“Who killed him?”
Harrington did not answer.
David leaned forward.
“Who killed my brother?”
Harrington turned toward him.
“Thomas Reed was not the only person who threatened the operation.”
David felt sick.
“What are you saying?”
“Michael had discovered the same information. He was preparing to meet a state investigator. Someone intercepted him.”
“Who?”
Harrington's expression remained unreadable.
“You're asking questions that could get you killed.”
David stared at him.
“You used my grief to control me.”
“I gave you an opportunity to learn the truth.”
“You gave me enough information to keep me obedient.”
Harrington shrugged.
“Call it whatever you want.”
David looked down at the photograph.
“Did the mayor order Michael's death?”
Harrington said nothing.
That silence was enough.
David closed the folder.
“I'm going to the state prosecutor.”
Harrington's expression hardened.
“You won't.”
“Watch me.”
The commissioner leaned forward.
“You should think about your family.”
David looked at him.
“You've already taken enough from me.”
Harrington signaled to the driver.
The SUV turned into a private underground garage.
Two men were waiting near the entrance.
David immediately understood.
He had not been brought there to receive answers.
He had been brought there to be silenced.
At the state command office, Marcus was examining the original transfer record when Elena received a call.
She listened for several seconds.
Then she looked at Marcus.
“We found David.”
“Where?”
“His phone was detected near a private garage owned by a company connected to Harrington.”
Marcus grabbed his jacket.
“Let's go.”
Elena stopped him.
“We have a team on the way. You're not going alone.”
“David could be in danger.”
“I know.”
Marcus looked at her.
“He's our colleague.”
“And if someone has taken him, we need to approach carefully.”
A second call came through.
Elena answered.
Her expression changed immediately.
“Repeat that.”
She listened.
Then she lowered the phone.
“The vehicle has left the garage.”
“Which direction?”
“North.”
Marcus looked at the map.
“That's the road toward Fairmont.”
Elena's eyes narrowed.
“Cedar Ridge.”
The SUV carrying David reached a secluded property outside the town of Fairmont.