But this time, Victoria wasn’t being taken there as a prisoner.

She was walking in with a team of investigators waiting nearby.

Inside the building, the lights were off.

The air smelled of dust and old cardboard.

Then they heard footsteps.

Someone was coming.

A man stepped from the darkness.

It was Marcus Bell.

The evidence technician.

He looked directly at Victoria.

“You shouldn’t have survived this long.”

Victoria answered calmly.

“You shouldn’t have called the patrol car.”

Marcus smiled.

“You figured it out.”

“No.”

Victoria raised her phone.

“You confessed.”

Marcus’s smile disappeared.

Behind him, another door opened.

A man stepped forward.

Victoria recognized him immediately.

It was the missing officer.

Alive.

Weak.

But alive.

The second officer rushed toward him.

His brother caught him.

For several seconds, neither man spoke.

Then the missing officer whispered:

“Get out.”

Everyone froze.

“Why?”

“Because Hale isn’t here.”

Victoria looked around.

“Where is he?”

The missing officer stared at her.

“He was never the man in charge.”

Victoria’s face changed.

“Who is?”

The man slowly pointed toward the doorway.

A figure stood there.

And Victoria recognized him.

It was Commissioner Daniel Mercer.

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