Chapter 16: When the Lights Went Out
The gunshot echoed through the factory.
For one terrible second, nobody moved.
Then Greene shouted, "DOWN!""
I dropped behind the concrete barrier as tactical officers surged toward the building. Flashlights cut through the darkness. Boots pounded across the loading dock. Somewhere inside, metal crashed against metal.
"Federal agents! Drop your weapons!""
A second shot rang out.
Then silence.
I crawled toward the side entrance, but Greene caught my shoulder.
"Stay here, Judge.""
"Deputy Reed is inside.""
"And we are getting him out.""
A tactical officer appeared in the doorway.
"Suspect down! We need medical assistance!""
I pushed past Greene.
Inside, emergency lights flickered over the factory floor. A man lay beside a stack of wooden pallets. His weapon was several feet away.
It was Daniel Cross.
He was clutching his abdomen.
Sheriff Voss stood near the opposite wall, his hands raised. Two officers had him surrounded.
Deputy Reed was still tied to the chair.
"Elijah!""
His head lifted.
"Your Honor?""
I rushed toward him.
An officer cut the restraints.
Reed tried to stand, but his knees buckled. I caught his arm.
"Easy. You're safe.""
He looked past me toward Cross.
"Don't let him leave.""
Cross laughed weakly from the floor.
"Still giving orders, Deputy?""
Greene approached him with a weapon drawn.
"Daniel Cross, you're under federal arrest.""
Cross looked up at him.
"You always were a little late, Thomas.""
Greene's expression hardened.
"Not this time.""
Paramedics entered and began treating Cross.
Voss was handcuffed and escorted toward the exit.
As he passed me, he stopped.
"You think this changes anything?""
I stared at him.
"It changes everything.""
He smiled.
"No, Judge. It changes nothing. You still don't know who signed the original order.""
"What order?""
"The order that started Bellhaven.""
Before I could question him, the officers moved him outside.
Reed gripped my sleeve.
"Your Honor, we need to find the list.""
"Voss said you had it.""
"I don't.""
"Then why did he say that?""
"Because he thought I had the original copy.""
Reed looked toward the factory's darkened control room.
"I have something else.""
He nodded toward a metal cabinet.
Greene opened it.
Inside was a small black recorder and a sealed envelope.
Reed reached for the envelope, but an officer stopped him.
"Evidence procedure.""
He nodded.
"Of course.""
I examined the label.
*BELLHAVEN OPERATION — ORIGINAL ASSIGNMENT DOCUMENTS.*
The date was fourteen years earlier.
I looked at Reed.
"How did you get these?""
"From Voss's private office. He kept them hidden behind a false panel.""
"Why didn't you tell us?""
"I wasn't sure who I could trust.""
His eyes moved briefly toward Greene.
Greene noticed.
"Say it.""
Reed swallowed.
"Deputy Marshal, I found your name in the old transfer records.""
Greene's face went still.
"I know.""
"You signed the movement authorization for Marcus Bell.""
"I've already explained that.""
"You also signed an authorization moving a witness from federal custody to a private holding facility.""
Greene stared at him.
"What witness?""
Reed opened the envelope.
A document slid onto the table.
The name was unmistakable.
*DANIEL CROSS.*
The date was fourteen years earlier.
The transfer record stated that Daniel Cross had been moved from a federal medical facility to a secure location after sustaining injuries during an undercover operation.
Greene stared at the signature.
"That's impossible.""
"Why?"" I asked.
"Because the transfer occurred after Cross was officially declared dead.""
Reed looked at him.
"Exactly.""
I examined the document.
The authorization bore Greene's signature, but something else caught my attention.
The approving official was listed as *MALCOLM PRICE*.
And beneath his name was a handwritten note:
*SUBJECT TO REMAIN UNIDENTIFIED UNTIL OPERATIONAL TERMINATION.*
"Thomas," I said quietly.
"What does that mean?""
Greene looked sick.
"It means someone may have kept Cross alive under a protected identity.""
"Who?""
He didn't answer.
A paramedic approached.
"Your Honor, the injured suspect is asking to speak with you.""
I looked toward Cross.
He was pale, but conscious.
I walked over.
"You're going to answer some questions.""
He smiled.
"Of course.""
"Who ordered the Bellhaven operation?""
"Malcolm Price.""
"Who funded it?""
"Price controlled the funding.""
"Who gave the original order to frame Marcus Bell?""
Cross looked toward the ceiling.
"That wasn't the original purpose.""
"Then what was?""
He turned his head toward me.
"Bellhaven was a test.""
I waited.
"A test of what?""
"How easily a local justice system could be controlled if the right people occupied the right positions.""
I felt my jaw tighten.
"How many people were involved?""
"More than you can imagine.""
"Names.""
He smiled faintly.
"You're still thinking like a judge.""
"And you're still thinking like a criminal.""
His expression changed.
"Then perhaps you'll understand this.""
He looked toward Greene.
"Thomas knows why Marcus Bell was chosen.""
Greene stepped forward.
"Don't.""
Cross laughed.
"Tell her.""
I turned.
"Thomas?""
Greene's hands trembled.
"Marcus Bell wasn't selected randomly.""
"Why him?""
"His brother worked as an accountant for one of Price's shell companies. He discovered transfers that connected federal funds to private accounts.""
I stared at him.
"Marcus was framed because of his brother?""
Greene nodded.
"His brother disappeared shortly before the murder. Marcus became the easiest person to silence.""
"Where is his brother now?""
Greene looked at Cross.
Cross answered for him.
"Dead.""
The room seemed to shrink.
"Who killed him?""
Cross closed his eyes.
"Malcolm Price.""
Before I could ask another question, an officer rushed inside.
"Judge Whitlock! We have a problem.""
"What?""
"Deputy Reed's federal assignment file has just been accessed remotely.""
"By whom?""
"We traced the connection.""
He handed me a tablet.
A message was displayed.
*OPERATION BELLHAVEN HAS BEEN TERMINATED. ALL REMAINING ASSETS WILL BE REMOVED.*
Beneath it was a list of names.
The first was Daniel Cross.
The second was Dalton Voss.
The third was Richard Hale.
The fourth was Eleanor Bennett.
The fifth was Thomas Greene.
I looked at Greene.
"You're on the list.""
He nodded slowly.
Then the officer pointed to the final name.
*AMARA WHITLOCK.*
May you like
A second message appeared.
*THE JUDGE IS THE LAST ASSET.*
