The doors opened.
Evelyn stepped out.
She didn't leave the courthouse.
Instead, she walked toward the small employee lounge near the rear entrance.
An older security guard named Raymond was sitting behind the desk.
He looked up.
"Morning, Evelyn."
"Morning, Ray."
He noticed the expression on her face.
"Something happen?"
"Apparently."
Raymond straightened.
"You're not supposed to be working upstairs anymore?"
"Apparently not."
He frowned.
"Who said that?"
"Melissa Grant."
Raymond's eyebrows rose.
"Melissa?"
Evelyn nodded.
"She brought two officers."
Raymond looked toward the hallway.
"That's strange."
"Very."
"You want me to call someone?"
"No."
Evelyn smiled.
"I already did."
Raymond stared at her.
"Who?"
Before Evelyn could answer, the elevator behind them opened again.
A man in a dark suit stepped out.
He was in his late fifties, tall, silver-haired, and immediately recognizable to everyone in the courthouse.
Chief Judge Daniel Harrison.
He walked directly toward Evelyn.
Raymond stood.
"Judge Harrison."
The judge nodded but didn't stop.
His eyes remained on Evelyn.
"Ms. Carter."
"Judge."
"You were supposed to remain upstairs."
"I was asked to leave."
"I know."
There was something unusually tense in his voice.
Evelyn glanced at Raymond.
"Can we speak somewhere private?"
Judge Harrison nodded.
"Conference room."
They walked through a side door.
The moment it closed, Harrison turned toward her.
"Tell me exactly what happened."
Evelyn repeated everything.
She didn't exaggerate.
She didn't accuse Melissa of anything she couldn't prove.
She simply described the encounter.
When she finished, Harrison walked toward the window.
"Did she say who filed the complaint?"
"No."
"Did she mention security protocol?"
"She said I wasn't authorized."
Harrison turned around.
"That's impossible."
"I know."
"Your authorization was personally signed by me."
"I know."
"Then why would she say that?"
Evelyn's expression remained calm.
"Maybe she didn't know."
Harrison shook his head.
"Melissa has worked here for four years. She knows exactly who has access to what."
He walked back to the table.
"Did you bring the notebook?"
Evelyn placed it on the table.
Harrison didn't touch it.
"How many entries?"
"Thirty-seven."
His face tightened.
"Thirty-seven?"
"Thirty-eight after this morning."
"Then we're getting close."
Evelyn looked at him.
"That's what worries me."
The judge sat down.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Finally, Harrison said:
"I received another message last night."
Evelyn's expression changed.
"What kind?"
"A threat."
She stared at him.
"Against you?"
"No."
Harrison looked directly into her eyes.
"Against you."
Silence filled the room.
Evelyn slowly leaned back.
"What did it say?"
"That if you continued looking into the courthouse records, someone would make sure you never walked out of this building."
Evelyn didn't look surprised.
"Did they mention the records?"
"No."
"Then they know."
"Know what?"
"That I've already seen them."
Harrison lowered his voice.
"How much?"
"Enough."
He studied her.
"Are you sure you want to continue?"
Evelyn smiled faintly.
"You know me better than that."
"I do."
"Then you already know the answer."
Harrison sighed.
"I was hoping you might reconsider."
"You asked me to come here."
"I asked you to come here because I trusted you."
"And you still do?"
"More than anyone."
Evelyn stood.
"Then we keep going."
Before Harrison could answer, there was a knock on the door.
Both turned.
A security officer entered.
"Judge, I'm sorry to interrupt."
"What is it?"
"Ms. Grant is asking for you."
Harrison's expression hardened.
"Tell her I'm unavailable."
"She says it's urgent."
"What kind of urgent?"
The officer hesitated.
"She says she has evidence that Ms. Carter has been accessing confidential files."
Evelyn and Harrison exchanged a look.
"Let her in," Harrison said.
The officer left.
Less than a minute later, Melissa walked inside.
She looked nervous now.
The confidence she had displayed upstairs was gone.
"Judge Harrison."
"Melissa."
Her eyes moved toward Evelyn.
"I didn't know she was with you."
Harrison's voice was cold.
"She isn't 'with me.' She is working under my authorization."
Melissa swallowed.
"I didn't realize."
"You didn't realize?"
"No."
"You've worked here for four years."
"I understand that."
"Then explain why you attempted to remove her."
Melissa looked down.
"I received instructions."
"From whom?"
She hesitated.
"I can't say."
"You can."
"I was told that she wasn't authorized to be on the third floor."
"By whom?"
Melissa's hands tightened around the folder she was carrying.
"I don't want to get anyone in trouble."
Harrison leaned forward.
"You're already in trouble."
Melissa's face went pale.
He continued.
"You removed an employee whose access I personally approved."
"I didn't know."
"You also brought security officers without contacting the security director."
"I thought—"
"You didn't think."
The room fell silent.
Evelyn watched Melissa carefully.
Then she noticed the folder.
There was a small red stamp in the upper corner.
SEALED.
Her eyes narrowed.
"What's in the folder?"
Melissa immediately pulled it closer to her.
"Nothing relevant to this."
Evelyn stood.
"Then why bring it?"
Melissa looked at her.
"Because I was told to."
"By whom?"
Melissa didn't answer.
Evelyn stepped closer.
"You said you were following instructions."
"Yes."
"Whose?"
"I can't tell you."
"Why?"
"Because I could lose my job."
Evelyn's voice softened.
"Melissa."
The younger woman looked at her.
"You don't have to be afraid of me."
Melissa almost laughed.
"I'm not afraid of you."
Evelyn glanced at the sealed folder.
"Then why are your hands shaking?"
Melissa looked down.
Her fingers were trembling.
She quickly placed the folder on the table.
Judge Harrison reached for it.
"Where did you get this?"
Melissa didn't answer.
Harrison examined the seal.
"This is from the archived evidence department."
"Yes."
"Who gave it to you?"
"Mr. Dalton."
The judge froze.
Evelyn's eyes sharpened.
"Victor Dalton?"
Melissa nodded.
The room became completely silent.
Victor Dalton was one of the most powerful attorneys in the county.
He represented corporations, politicians, and wealthy defendants.
More importantly, he had been connected to the courthouse scandal Evelyn had been investigating.
Harrison looked at Evelyn.
"You never told me Dalton had contacted you."
"He hasn't."
"Then why would he send this?"
Evelyn stared at the folder.
"Because he wants us to find it."
Harrison frowned.
"That doesn't make sense."
"It does if it's bait."
Melissa looked between them.
"What are you talking about?"
Evelyn slowly reached toward the folder.
"Don't open it."
Harrison stopped.
"Why?"
"Because that's what he wants."
"You think it's trapped?"
"Not physically."
Evelyn tapped the seal.
"It's evidence manipulation."
Melissa looked confused.
"What does that mean?"
"It means someone wants us to believe this document was stored in the archive."
She turned to Harrison.
"But it wasn't."
Harrison's face tightened.
"How do you know?"
"Because I checked the archive logs yesterday."
Melissa stared at her.