Chapter 8: The Enemy Inside the Badge
The power returned after seven minutes.
But Precinct 54 was no longer the same.
Everyone had seen the message.
Everyone knew.
Someone powerful was watching.
Commander Carter stood in front of the main computer.
“Trace the source.””
An officer rushed forward.
“We’re trying.””
“How long?””
“Unknown.””
Carter looked around.
“Find out.””
Sullivan watched him.
The calm commander from yesterday was gone.
Not replaced by panic.
Replaced by focus.
Daniel approached quietly.
“They know we’re close.””
Carter nodded.
“Yes.””
“Then they’ll run.””
“No.””
Carter looked at him.
“They’ll make mistakes.””
That afternoon, Carter called everyone into the briefing room.
“I want complete honesty.””
Nobody spoke.
“If you protected someone, now is the time to admit it.””
Silence.
Then a young officer raised his hand.
“I have something.””
Everyone turned.
The officer looked nervous.
“I found a hidden access account on the department server.””
Carter stepped closer.
“Whose account?””
The officer swallowed.
“Registered under a retired officer.””
Carter frowned.
“Name?””
The officer looked at the screen.
“Victor Kane.””
The room exploded with whispers.
Sullivan looked at Daniel.
The impossible connection was becoming real.
Kane was still controlling the department from the shadows.
But why?
Carter ordered a search of Kane’s old records.
What they found was worse than expected.
Financial transfers.
Missing evidence logs.
Closed investigations reopened secretly.
Then one document appeared.
A private communication.
Signed by Wallace.
And approved by someone else.
Someone nobody expected.
Chief Michael Reynolds.
Sullivan felt sick.
“He lied.””
Carter stared at the screen.
“Yes.””
Daniel looked at him.
“Now you know.””
But Carter did not celebrate.
Because he knew something was wrong.
“Why would Reynolds confess part of the truth?””
Everyone looked at him.
Carter continued.
“He wanted us to find Wallace.””
Sullivan frowned.
“So?””
“So maybe Wallace wasn’t the person we were supposed to find.””
A cold silence followed.
Carter printed the document.
At the bottom was another signature.
A hidden approval.
The name was partially erased.
Only one letter remained.
“K.””
That night, Sullivan found Carter outside the precinct.
“You think Reynolds is being controlled.””
Carter nodded.
“Yes.””
“Then who controls him?””
Carter looked at the city lights.
“That’s what we need to discover.””
Sullivan hesitated.
“I want to help.””
Carter looked at him.
“Why?””
“Because I was part of the problem.””
A pause.
“And because Daniel Brooks deserved better.””
Carter studied him.
Then nodded.
“Good.””
Sullivan looked surprised.
“That’s it?””
“You want forgiveness?””
“No.””
“Then earn trust.””
They returned inside.
But they were too late.
Daniel Brooks was gone.
His chair was empty.
The security cameras had been disabled.
On the table where he had been sitting was a note.
Carter picked it up.
Three words were written.
*I REMEMBER EVERYTHING.*
Sullivan looked at Carter.
“What does that mean?””
Carter turned the paper over.
On the back was a location.
An abandoned police storage facility outside the city.
And below it:
*COME ALONE.*
Carter immediately knew.
It was a trap.
May you like
But the truth was waiting there.
And whoever created the trap knew exactly how to force him into it.
