Chapter 5: The Betrayal Inside My Own Chambers
For several seconds, I couldn't move.
Thomas Reed had worked beside me for four years.
He was thirty-seven, meticulous, soft-spoken, and brilliant enough to have been offered positions at several prestigious law firms.
He had helped draft opinions.
Reviewed sealed filings.
Prepared judicial memoranda.
And tracked my vehicle that afternoon.
I had trusted him with documents that could destroy careers.
Now his photograph was sitting on a table inside a county detention center.
"Where did you get this?"" I asked.
Linda Haskins swallowed.
"Marcus took it.""
"Why was Thomas Reed here?""
"I don't know.""
"Was he present when Marcus died?""
She nodded.
I looked again at the timestamp.
11:48 p.m.
According to the preliminary investigative file, Marcus Price had been pronounced dead at 12:16 a.m.
Twenty-eight minutes later.
"Did you see what happened?""
Linda lowered herself into the chair opposite me.
"I was working intake that night.""
"What did you witness?""
"Marcus was brought through the side entrance. He was barely conscious. His shirt was torn, and he had blood running down his neck.""
"Did he receive medical attention?""
"Not immediately.""
"How long?""
"Forty minutes. Maybe longer.""
I felt my jaw tighten.
"Why?""
"Because Sheriff Voss wanted him to sign something.""
"What?""
"A statement saying he had attacked a deputy and that the injuries happened during the arrest.""
"Did Marcus sign it?""
"No.""
Linda looked at the door.
"Commissioner Shaw came in around midnight. He brought the federal man with him.""
"Thomas?""
She nodded.
"They went into the sheriff's office.""
"What happened afterward?""
"Marcus stopped breathing.""
I stared at her.
"Did anyone call an ambulance?""
"Eventually.""
"Did anyone perform CPR?""
She began crying.
"No.""
I closed my eyes for a moment.
When I opened them, Linda was gripping the edge of the table.
"Why didn't you report this?""
"Because I have two grandchildren. My daughter works at the county hospital. Dalton knows where we live.""
"Do you have copies of the records?""
She nodded.
"Some.""
"Where?""
"Hidden.""
"Are they safe?""
"I don't know.""
I looked at the photograph.
"Ms. Haskins, you need to understand something. If these allegations are true, you may be a material witness in a federal criminal investigation.""
She laughed weakly.
"Judge, I'm already a witness. That's why I'm afraid.""
I leaned forward.
"Then let's make sure your testimony survives.""
A loud knock interrupted us.
"Linda!""
Voss's voice.
"Open the door.""
Linda jumped.
He knocked again.
"Now!""
She shoved the photograph into my hand.
"There's something else.""
"What?""
"Marcus left a recording.""
"Where?""
She looked toward the ceiling camera.
"Not here.""
The door handle turned.
Linda stood.
"Please don't tell him I spoke to you.""
I slipped the photograph beneath my sleeve.
"I won't.""
The door opened.
Voss entered.
"What are you doing?""
"Giving her water," Linda replied.
"Get out.""
She hurried past him.
He closed the door and looked at me.
"You seem to be making friends.""
"People tend to talk when they're afraid.""
He pulled out a chair.
"Let's discuss your little clerk problem.""
I looked directly at him.
"What do you know about Thomas Reed?""
Voss's smile returned.
"Ah. So you found the photograph.""
He placed both hands on the table.
"Your clerk has been very helpful.""
"How?""
"Paperwork. Dates. Names. Court schedules.""
"You're telling me a federal employee has been providing you confidential information?""
"I'm telling you that people have choices.""
"Thomas Reed is not authorized to disclose sealed judicial information.""
"Maybe you should ask him why he did it.""
I remained still.
"Did you pay him?""
Voss laughed.
"Money isn't always the reason.""
"Then what was?""
He leaned back.
"Fear.""
The word hung between us.
"Thomas has a daughter," he continued.
"Beautiful little girl. Six years old. Goes to a private school outside Macon.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Leave his family out of this.""
Voss smiled.
"That's what I told him.""
I looked at him.
"You're threatening a child?""
"I'm explaining how the world works.""
He stood.
"Here's what happens next. You sign the statement. You admit you came here to interfere with an investigation. Then you go home.""
"And if I refuse?""
He picked up my federal identification card.
"Then your clerk's cooperation becomes public.""
He placed it on the table.
"And maybe your career doesn't survive the embarrassment.""
I studied him.
"Have you ever read the federal statute governing obstruction of justice?""
He sighed.
"Here we go.""
"Have you?""
"No.""
"That's unfortunate.""
I stood.
He reached for my shoulder.
"Sit down.""
I didn't move.
"You're making a mistake, Sheriff.""
His hand tightened.
"You're the one in handcuffs.""
"That doesn't make you right.""
For a moment, he looked almost uncertain.
Then his radio crackled.
"Unit twelve to Sheriff Voss.""
He grabbed it.
"Go ahead.""
"Sir, we've got a situation at the courthouse.""
"What situation?""
"Federal vehicles. Three of them. They're asking for you.""
Voss looked at me.
"Who?""
The radio answered.
"Department of Justice.""
He lowered the device.
His face had gone pale.
I sat back down.
"Looks like someone finally answered my call.""
He pointed at me.
"You did this?""
I said nothing.
He stormed out.
A moment later, I heard him shouting in the corridor.
"Lock the front doors! Nobody leaves!""
I looked at the camera.
The emergency transmitter had worked.
But I wasn't sure the people arriving outside understood what they were walking into.
My chambers were sixty miles away.
The sealed investigation was still active.
And the person who had compromised it might be waiting among the federal agents.
I needed more than a rescue.
I needed proof.
I looked toward the door.
Then I heard three sharp knocks.
Linda entered.
This time, she wasn't carrying water.
She held a small black flash drive.
"I found the recording," she whispered.
I took it.
"What's on it?""
"Marcus recorded the night he died.""
She looked terrified.
"There's a conversation between Sheriff Voss, Commissioner Shaw, and your clerk.""
I gripped the drive.
"Does it identify the other people involved?""
Linda nodded.
"Yes.""
"Who?""
She took a breath.
"Someone from the federal courthouse.""
I looked down at the flash drive.
Then back at her.
"Thomas Reed?""
"No.""
Her voice dropped almost to a whisper.
"Your chief clerk isn't the only person they've been paying.""
A sudden crash echoed from the corridor.
Someone shouted.
Then came the unmistakable sound of a gun being cocked.
Linda stumbled backward.
The door flew open.
Deputy Curtis stood in the doorway, his face red with anger.
His eyes moved from Linda to the flash drive in my hand.
"Give me that.""
I didn't move.
Curtis raised his weapon.
"Now!""
Behind him, Sheriff Voss appeared.
And for the first time since he had arrested me, he looked genuinely frightened.
Not of me.
Of what was on that little black drive.
"Don't shoot her," Voss snapped.
Curtis didn't lower the gun.
"She's got the recording.""
Voss stepped into the room.
"Judge Whitlock, listen carefully.""
I looked at him.
"You're going to let us leave.""
He shook his head.
"Not until you tell me who else has heard that recording.""
I held the flash drive between two fingers.
Then I asked the question that made his face collapse.
"Have you ever wondered why the FBI hasn't arrested you yet?""
He said nothing.
I leaned forward.
"Because, Sheriff, the recording isn't the only evidence we have.""
His radio crackled.
A woman's voice came through.
"Dalton Voss, this is Special Agent Elena Brooks with the FBI. Put down your weapon and step away from the detainee.""
Voss slowly turned toward the doorway.
The voice continued.
"We have a federal arrest warrant.""
He looked at Curtis.
Curtis looked at the flash drive.
And then, from somewhere behind the federal agents, another voice spoke.
"Nobody moves.""
I recognized it immediately.
It was Thomas Reed.
May you like
My own senior clerk.
And he was holding a gun.
