Chapter 10: The Man Who Wore His Face
"Commissioner Davis, I think it's time you met your brother's twin.""
The caller's voice was calm.
Almost friendly.
"Because he's the one who signed the confession.""
Angela gripped the phone.
"Who is this?""
A quiet chuckle came through the speaker.
"Someone who has been trying to warn you.""
"Give me your name.""
"Names are dangerous things in your line of work, Commissioner.""
"Then tell me where to find this man.""
"He's closer than you think.""
The call ended.
Angela immediately handed her phone to Hayes.
"Trace it.""
Hayes examined the screen.
"Blocked number. I'll need the carrier information.""
Marcus was still staring at the photograph.
The man in the interrogation room looked exactly like him.
Not similar.
Not vaguely familiar.
Exactly like him.
The same broad nose.
The same slightly uneven hairline.
The same small scar above his left eyebrow, which Marcus had received when he fell from a bicycle at age nine.
Even the small indentation beneath his chin was identical.
"That's impossible," Marcus whispered.
Angela sat beside him.
"Marcus, look at me.""
He didn't.
"Marcus.""
He finally raised his eyes.
"Did Mom ever tell you about another child?""
Angela frowned.
"What?""
"Before we were born. Did she ever mention a pregnancy?""
"No.""
"Adoption? A relative who looked like me?""
"Marcus, why are you asking?""
He pointed at the photograph.
"Because that man has my face.""
Hayes cleared his throat.
"Commissioner, I think we need to establish whether the photograph is genuine.""
Angela nodded.
"Send it to forensic imaging. I want metadata, original source information, and an authentication report.""
Marcus shook his head.
"There's something else.""
He enlarged the photograph.
Behind the man, partially obscured by a chair, was a calendar.
The date was visible.
March 14.
Two years earlier.
Marcus frowned.
"That's my mother's birthday.""
Angela looked at him.
"What?""
"March fourteenth. The photograph was taken on her birthday.""
He stared at the man again.
"Two years ago, I was in Chicago on that date.""
Angela searched her memory.
"You were attending the property management conference.""
"Exactly.""
"Then we can verify your location.""
Marcus nodded.
"But that's not what I'm worried about.""
He tapped the screen.
"Look at the visitor badge.""
The badge carried a barcode and a handwritten number.
Angela leaned closer.
"Can you read it?""
Marcus enlarged the image.
"Seven-one-four.""
Hayes immediately opened his phone.
"That's an internal informant identification number.""
He searched the department database.
A few seconds later, his expression changed.
"Commissioner...""
"What?""
"The informant isn't registered under Marcus Carter.""
"Then whose name?""
Hayes turned the screen toward them.
*IDENTITY: UNKNOWN MALE.*
*ALIAS: CARTER, MARCUS.*
*STATUS: ACTIVE.*
*ASSIGNED HANDLER: DETECTIVE DANIEL BROOKS.*
Angela stared.
"Brooks created the file.""
"Yes.""
"Can you access the supporting documents?""
Hayes tapped the screen.
A warning appeared.
*RESTRICTED ACCESS — ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORIZATION REQUIRED.*
He tried again.
The system rejected him.
"Someone locked the file.""
Marcus rubbed his forehead.
"So somebody created a fake informant, gave him my identity, and used him to sign a confession?""
"That's what it appears to be," Hayes said.
"Then why?""
Angela answered quietly.
"Because if they can establish that you were working with the department, they can use your supposed informant status to explain why you had access to restricted records.""
Marcus looked at her.
"And if they accuse me of stealing the equipment?""
"They can claim you stole it under police direction.""
Hayes nodded.
"Which means the money trail can be redirected away from Sentinel and toward you.""
Marcus sat back.
For the first time, the entire scheme seemed to come into focus.
The officer at Centennial Park hadn't simply wanted to search a suspicious stroller.
He had been trying to recover something that could connect Marcus to the manufactured informant identity.
The photograph.
The envelope.
The fabricated access card.
Everything had been designed to make him look guilty.
Angela stood.
"We need to find Brooks.""
Hayes shook his head.
"He's already gone.""
"What do you mean?""
"I called headquarters. His vehicle is missing, and he hasn't reported for duty.""
Angela's expression hardened.
"Then we find his last known location.""
Hayes opened the department tracking system.
A map appeared.
"His patrol vehicle was last recorded near the riverfront warehouse.""
Marcus looked at the map.
The same warehouse where Sentinel stored its equipment.
"That's where the missing evidence went.""
Angela picked up her jacket.
"Then that's where we're going.""
Hayes blocked her path.
"Not without federal authorization.""
"Robert, we're running out of time.""
"Which is exactly why we shouldn't walk into a warehouse controlled by people who have already impersonated federal agents.""
Marcus looked between them.
Then he spoke.
"There's another way.""
Angela turned.
"What?""
"Brooks has been handling the informant file for two years. If he's been using my identity, he must have submitted regular reports.""
Hayes nodded slowly.
"Confidential informants require documented contact.""
"Exactly. Every meeting, every payment, every conversation.""
Angela understood.
"If we find the payment records, we can establish who has been funding the fake identity.""
"And possibly where the man is staying," Hayes added.
Marcus looked at the photograph again.
He felt sick.
"Find him.""
Angela placed a hand on his shoulder.
"We will.""
Then Hayes's phone rang.
He answered.
"Captain Hayes.""
A woman's voice came through, trembling.
"Captain, this is Officer Miller.""
Hayes frowned.
"Why are you calling me?""
"I need to speak to Commissioner Davis.""
Angela took the phone.
"Speak.""
Miller sounded terrified.
"Commissioner, I know what they were looking for in the stroller.""
Angela's eyes narrowed.
"What?""
"The envelope wasn't supposed to be there.""
"Then who put it there?""
Miller swallowed.
"Mr. Lawson.""
Angela glanced at Marcus.
Miller continued.
"And there's something you need to know about the man who looks like your brother.""
A pause.
"He isn't his twin.""
Angela's voice became cold.
"Then who is he?""
May you like
Miller whispered:
"He's the reason your mother died.""
