Before Calder could blink, the front doors of the Briar Ridge Police Station shattered inward. A dozen heavily armed federal tactical agents swarmed into the lobby, assault rifles raised, shouting commands. The back doors were kicked in simultaneously. FBI agents flooded the hallways.
"Drop it! Hands on your heads! Nobody move!"
Calder froze, the color draining from his face as a red laser sight painted his chest. He slowly raised his hands, the toothpick falling from his slack jaw. Talia stepped forward, grabbed him by the collar, and slammed him against his own desk, clicking heavy steel cuffs around his wrists.
Above them, Chief Whitlock turned to flee from his office, only to find two federal agents already waiting for him in the corridor. The smirk was entirely gone from his face.
Amidst the chaos, as corrupt officers were disarmed and led away in cuffs, Talia glanced toward the back of the room. Sitting behind a desk stacked with old files, Julian Crowe caught her eye. He didn't say a word, but he gave a small, almost imperceptible nod.
The invisible clerk had brought down the entire house, and justice had finally come to Briar Ridge.