Chapter 7: The Arrest Warrant
"Nobody move. We have a warrant for Marcus Carter's arrest.""
The voice came from the hallway.
Angela turned sharply.
Three men in dark jackets entered the hospital room. The first held up a document bearing the seal of the county court. The second carried a pair of handcuffs. The third positioned himself between Marcus and the exit.
The woman claiming to be Special Agent Rebecca Collins stepped aside.
"Commissioner Davis, please don't interfere," the first man said.
Angela didn't look at the warrant.
She looked at the badge hanging from the woman's neck.
"What's your federal identification number?""
The woman blinked.
"Excuse me?""
"Your identification number. State it.""
"I already presented my credentials.""
"Then repeating the number shouldn't be difficult.""
The woman glanced toward the men.
That tiny movement told Angela everything.
"Security!"" she shouted.
The hospital guard finally moved, stepping toward the woman.
One of the men grabbed his arm.
"Stay where you are.""
Angela immediately raised her phone.
"Emergency police command. This is Commissioner Davis. I am reporting an attempted unlawful detention inside St. Mary's Hospital.""
The first man laughed.
"Commissioner, you're making this worse.""
"No. I'm documenting it.""
He stepped closer.
"Your brother is wanted for possession of stolen government property, obstruction of a criminal investigation, and evidence tampering.""
Marcus stared at him.
"That's ridiculous.""
"Mr. Carter, stand up.""
"I haven't been shown a valid warrant.""
The man held out the document.
Marcus looked at it.
His name appeared at the top.
So did his home address.
But the listed charges were based on an incident supposedly occurring two days earlier.
He frowned.
"That's impossible.""
The man raised an eyebrow.
"What's impossible?""
"According to this document, I accessed a restricted city facility on Thursday night.""
"Correct.""
"I was in Boston on Thursday night.""
The man didn't respond.
Marcus turned toward Angela.
"I have hotel receipts. Flight records. I spoke at a construction conference. There were two hundred people in that room.""
The man folded the document.
"That is something you can explain to a judge.""
Angela stepped forward.
"Before anyone touches my brother, I want the issuing judge's name and the case number.""
The man hesitated.
"Commissioner, step aside.""
"Answer the question.""
He looked toward the woman pretending to be Collins.
She gave him a barely perceptible nod.
Then he reached for Marcus's arm.
Angela grabbed his wrist.
"Don't.""
The room erupted.
The second man moved toward her.
But before he could reach her, the hospital security guard slammed his shoulder into him, driving him against the wall.
"Get your hands off her!""
The fake agent stepped backward.
Marcus pulled Maya's carrier closer.
"Angela!""
"I'm fine!""
The first man tried to seize Marcus's other arm.
Marcus instinctively raised his injured shoulder and immediately grimaced.
"Stop!"" Angela shouted.
"He is receiving medical treatment!""
The man ignored her.
Then the room's television suddenly switched channels.
A local news broadcast appeared.
A reporter stood outside police headquarters.
"We are receiving breaking information that Chief Police Commissioner Angela Davis is under investigation following allegations of evidence tampering and corruption involving her own department.""
Angela froze.
The reporter continued.
"Sources close to the mayor's office claim that Commissioner Davis may have used her authority to interfere with a criminal investigation involving her brother, Marcus Carter.""
Marcus stared at the screen.
The first man smiled.
"Looks like the situation has changed, Commissioner.""
Angela slowly turned toward him.
"Who sent you?""
He didn't answer.
"Who issued the warrant?""
"That's confidential.""
"Then you're not leaving this room with my brother.""
The man pulled out his handcuffs.
"Mr. Carter, turn around.""
Before he could take another step, the hospital security officer grabbed the warrant from his hand.
He examined the document.
Then he looked up.
"Sir, this warrant doesn't have a valid electronic verification code.""
The man's face tightened.
"What?""
"The court verification code is blank.""
Angela held out her hand.
"Let me see it.""
She examined the document.
Then she noticed the signature.
Judge Eleanor Whitmore.
She knew that judge personally.
Eleanor had retired eight months earlier.
Angela looked at the man.
"You're using a retired judge's signature?""
His expression changed.
For the first time, he looked frightened.
"That's not possible.""
"Apparently, it is.""
The fake agent suddenly turned toward the door.
"Let's go.""
But the hospital guard stepped in front of her.
"Nobody leaves.""
She reached into her jacket.
Angela's voice cracked like a whip.
"Hands!""
The woman stopped.
A small black device was visible in her hand.
Not a weapon.
A phone.
She pressed the screen.
Then the hospital television went black.
The woman looked at Marcus.
"Your sister should have stayed out of this.""
She ran.
The security guard pursued her into the hallway.
The two men followed.
Within seconds, the room was empty except for Angela, Marcus, Maya, and the trembling hospital employee.
Angela looked at the abandoned warrant.
Then she picked up her phone.
"Rebecca Collins," she whispered.
Marcus frowned.
"What?""
"That woman knew the real agent's name. She knew the investigation. She had a badge convincing enough to get past hospital security.""
Angela looked at the television.
"And somebody just announced my removal as commissioner before any official action has taken place.""
Her phone vibrated.
A message appeared from an unknown sender.
*You have ten minutes to surrender the original evidence drive.*
A second message followed.
*Otherwise, the next arrest warrant will be for your daughter.*
Marcus went completely still.
Angela read the message.
Then she looked at her brother.
For the first time in her career, she made a decision that had nothing to do with politics, procedure, or the department.
She picked up Maya's carrier.
"We're leaving.""
"Where?""
"Somewhere they can't find us.""
But as she reached for the door, her phone rang.
The caller was the mayor.
May you like
And his first words were:
"Angela, I need you to resign immediately.""
