"It might," Davis said. "We're going to follow the evidence wherever it goes. But we're not going to tell the family a conclusion just because it would bring them comfort."
Harris nodded. His eyes filled briefly, and he blinked the tears away before continuing. He had not joined the department intending to become a corrupt officer. That fact now mattered less than the choices he had made after he realized what was happening. For the first time, he began describing those choices without hiding behind the phrase "I was following orders."
Foster's official assignment had become more delicate. His supervisors had been examining activity at Clearwater for months, but Reed's acceleration of the next shipment created a risk that suspects would disperse evidence before warrants could be executed. Investigators coordinated with federal prosecutors and a judge, reviewed what each witness could credibly establish, and obtained the necessary judicial authorizations for the operation they planned. The task force included personnel from outside Milfield because so many local channels had become unreliable.
An internal inquiry also identified a potential leak from an administrative employee assigned to a regional federal office. The suspected employee had no authority to direct the investigation, but access records suggested that information about inquiries into Clearwater might have been passed to an outside contact. The review was not complete, and Davis refused to let speculation dictate the operation. She restricted sensitive information to people whose roles required it and ensured that each evidentiary step had a documented basis.
At six that evening, Reed called an informal meeting of his favored officers. Daniels arrived looking as though he had aged a decade since Tuesday, and Lieutenant Phillips brought a folder of schedules. Reed said the remaining Clearwater inventory needed to be moved before a planned records review could reach the warehouse. He spoke of it as a routine logistical problem, but his hands betrayed him; he kept adjusting a ring that had never bothered him before.
"The Turner situation isn't going away," Phillips said.
"It will if the prosecutor does his job," Reed replied. "We've got a hearing tomorrow. Once she's tied up in court, the attention moves elsewhere."
Daniels cleared his throat. "There's a possibility of outside footage. Somebody saw her sister at the gas station."
Reed turned toward him. "Then you should hope it shows exactly what your report says it shows."
The words landed with quiet menace. Daniels looked at Phillips, but the internal affairs lieutenant was studying the schedules and refused to meet his eyes. Reed had kept them together for years by rewarding loyalty and distributing risk. Now he was showing them that, when the risk became serious, each man might be left to survive alone.