"Willow Street."
"Do you know the place?"
"Yes."
"What is it?"
He hesitated.
"An old property owned by the county."
Evelyn looked at him.
"Why?"
"It used to be a witness protection residence."
She froze.
"Used to be?"
"Yes."
"When was it shut down?"
Harrison looked at the date on the photograph.
"Eleven years ago."
Evelyn's eyes narrowed.
"Then why was someone photographed there three months ago?"
Harrison didn't answer.
She already knew.
Someone had been using the property.
Recently.
"Who has access?"
"Technically, no one."
"Technically isn't good enough."
Harrison sighed.
"I'll check."
"No."
He looked at her.
"I'm going alone."
"Absolutely not."
"If Sarah is alive—"
"Then whoever is behind this knows exactly how desperate you are to find her."
Evelyn turned away.
"You don't understand."
"I understand perfectly."
"No, you don't."
She looked back at him.
"Sarah didn't just disappear. She was investigating people inside this courthouse. Then she vanished. Every person who helped her was threatened, transferred, or destroyed."
Harrison's expression softened.
"I know."
"Do you?"
"Yes."
"Then you know why I can't walk away."
Harrison was silent.
Finally, he said:
"At least let me send security."
"No."
"Then take me."
Evelyn hesitated.
"Why?"
"Because I was there when Sarah disappeared."
Evelyn's eyes widened.
"What?"
Harrison looked away.
"I never told you."
"You never told me anything."
"I was afraid."
"Of what?"
"Of what would happen if the truth came out."
Evelyn stepped closer.
"What truth?"
Harrison lowered his voice.
"Sarah didn't disappear from the courthouse."
Evelyn stared at him.
"Then where?"
"The basement."
She went completely still.
"What?"
"The night she vanished, she was last seen entering the courthouse basement."
"Who saw her?"
"I did."
"Why didn't you tell the police?"
"I did."
"Then why wasn't it in the report?"
Harrison didn't answer.
Evelyn's voice became cold.
"Why?"
"Because the report was changed."
"By whom?"
"Someone with access to the evidence system."
"Who?"
"I never found out."
Evelyn stared at him.
"You expect me to believe that?"
"No."
"Good."
Harrison took a breath.
"I expect you to understand why I've spent twelve years trying to uncover the same truth."
Evelyn looked at him for a long moment.
Then she nodded.
"Fine."
"We go together."
"At midnight."
"Agreed."
They returned inside.
The blackout had ended.
But something was different.
Employees were whispering.
Security officers were everywhere.
And Melissa Grant was nowhere to be found.
Evelyn immediately noticed.
"Where's Melissa?"
Harrison looked around.
"I thought she was with you."
"No."
They searched the conference room.
Empty.
The hallway.
Empty.
The security desk.
Nothing.
Then Evelyn noticed something on the floor.
A small silver bracelet.
She picked it up.
"She was here."
Harrison looked at it.
"That's Melissa's."
Evelyn turned toward the security officer.
"Pull the cameras."
"Which cameras?"
"All of them."
He hesitated.
"The system is still recovering."
"Then recover it faster."
The officer nodded.
Minutes later, they entered the security room.
Multiple screens flickered back to life.
The officer rewound the footage.
At 8:26 a.m., Melissa was seen leaving the conference room.
She walked toward the elevator.
At 8:27, she entered.
At 8:28, the elevator stopped.
At 8:29, the screen went black.
Evelyn frowned.
"Go back."
The officer rewound.
"Stop."
She pointed.
A man was standing near the elevator.
"Zoom in."
The image became blurry.
But Evelyn recognized him.
"Dalton."
Harrison's expression hardened.
"Where did he go?"
The officer followed the footage.
Dalton entered the elevator.
Then the screen went black.
Evelyn turned.
"Find the elevator camera."
"There isn't one."
"Why?"
"Privacy policy."
Evelyn shook her head.
"No. There is another camera."
"Where?"
She pointed toward the ceiling.
"Behind the fire alarm."
The officer stared.
"How do you know?"
"Because I installed it."
Harrison looked at her.
"You installed a camera?"
"An investigative camera."
"Without authorization?"
"With federal authorization."
The officer immediately accessed the feed.
A hidden recording appeared.
The elevator doors opened.
Melissa stepped inside.
Dalton followed.
They spoke.
There was no audio.
But their body language was enough.
Melissa looked frightened.
Dalton handed her something.
Then he leaned closer.
Melissa shook her head.
Dalton grabbed her arm.
The elevator descended.
Evelyn's expression hardened.
"Where does that elevator go?"
The officer looked at the controls.
"Basement."
Evelyn's heart began pounding.
Harrison whispered:
"Sarah."
Evelyn nodded.
"Maybe."
They rushed downstairs.
The elevator doors opened.
The basement was empty.
But one door was slightly open.
Evelyn pushed it.
A narrow corridor stretched into darkness.
At the end was an old storage room.
She opened it.
Inside were dozens of boxes.
Old case files.
Court records.
Evidence logs.
And one desk.
On the desk was a laptop.
The screen was already on.
A video was playing.
Evelyn stepped closer.
Her blood ran cold.
Sarah appeared on the screen.
Older.
Tired.
But alive.
She looked directly into the camera.
"Evelyn."
Evelyn stopped breathing.
Sarah continued.
"If you're watching this, they finally failed to keep you away."
Harrison stood behind her.
The video continued.
"I need you to listen carefully."
Sarah looked frightened.
"I don't have much time."
Evelyn whispered:
"Sarah..."
The recording continued.
"The people you think are responsible aren't the ones who started this."
Sarah glanced behind her.
"There's someone above them."
Someone knocked loudly somewhere outside the room.
Sarah's eyes widened.
She hurried.
"The person controlling everything has access to the court, the police, and the evidence system."
Evelyn leaned closer.
"And there's one person you must never trust."
Sarah paused.
Her expression became painful.
"Judge Harrison."
Evelyn slowly turned.
Harrison was standing behind her.
His face had gone completely white.
Evelyn stared at him.
The video continued.
"Don't trust anyone."
The screen suddenly went black.
Evelyn looked at Harrison.
"Is it true?"
He didn't answer.
"Did you know Sarah was alive?"
"No."
"Then why did she say not to trust you?"