There were newspaper clippings.
Reports.
Old investigation notes.
Then he found something that made his heart stop.
A list of names.
Twelve names.
At the top:
SPECIAL INTEGRITY DIVISION
At the bottom:
Marcus Vale — Status Unknown
Daniel read the list carefully.
One name was familiar.
Officer Mason Reed.
Daniel's eyes narrowed.
Reed's father had been a police officer.
And his father had worked with the Special Integrity Division.
Daniel leaned back.
The pieces were beginning to connect.
Maybe the badge wasn't random.
Maybe the traffic stop wasn't random.
Maybe Daniel hadn't been pulled over because of his car.
Maybe he had been targeted.
But why?
He returned to the old records.
He found a handwritten note beside Reed's father's name.
"Financial investigation. Unresolved."
Daniel's pulse quickened.
He called Chief Whitaker.
"Chief, I found something."
Whitaker answered immediately.
"What?"
"I think Reed's family may be connected to the old investigation."
There was silence.
Then Whitaker asked:
"How sure are you?"
"Not sure enough."
"Don't confront him."
"I won't."
"Bring everything to headquarters."
Daniel gathered the documents.
Then he noticed something else.
A small envelope had been taped beneath the folder.
He opened it.
Inside was a single photograph.
Marcus Vale.
Standing beside a black SUV.
And beside him—
A much younger Mason Reed.
Daniel stared at the photograph.
The investigation had just become personal.
The next morning, the black SUV from the highway appeared outside headquarters.
Daniel recognized it immediately.
It belonged to Elena Vale.
Marcus Vale's daughter.
She was now a federal investigator.
Daniel had met her once at a conference.
She entered the building carrying a folder.
"Daniel."
"Elena."
She looked exhausted.
"I heard about last night."
Daniel frowned.
"How?"
"You were stopped by an officer connected to my father's case."
Daniel stared at her.
"How did you know?"
"Because I've been investigating him."
The room went silent.
Daniel closed the door.
"What do you know?"
Elena opened the folder.
"Officer Mason Reed has been under quiet review for months."
"Why?"