Chapter 3 - NOT EVERY BADGE WAS BOUGHT
Agent Price led us inside.
“We’ve had an open investigation into Richard Voss for eleven months.”
“Why?”
“Bribery. Labor trafficking allegations. Contract steering through Voss Construction.”
I stared at her.
“Sheriff Cole?”
“His name surfaced repeatedly.”
She continued.
“Your wife’s 911 call created a problem for them.”
Emily had witnessed Cameron attacking a woman.
Reported it.
Then refused to stop asking why the case vanished.
Price explained that investigators believed somebody inside the sheriff’s office redirected Emily’s emergency calls and monitored the response.
The attack at our home changed everything.
“What exactly happened?” I asked.
“We’re still reconstructing it.”
Ferris answered instead.
“A department cruiser was checked out under a false maintenance entry.”
He pointed toward the log.
“Travis drove it.”
“Who else was there?”
“We believe Cameron and two men associated with his father’s security operation.”
My hands curled.
Dana watched me carefully.
“Mr. Dean.”
“I’m listening.”
“No.”
Her voice hardened.
“You’re imagining finding Cameron.”
I didn’t answer.
“That is exactly what his attorneys need.”
Malik folded his arms.
“She’s right.”
I looked at him.
Traitor.
He didn’t care.
Dana continued.
“In approximately ninety minutes, assuming final judicial approval, coordinated warrants will be executed.”
“Cameron?”
“Yes.”
“Travis?”
“Yes.”
“And Sheriff Cole’s department records?”
“Yes.”
I looked at Ferris.
“Why bring this to me?”
He met my eyes.
“Because I watched your wife wheeled into surgery.”
His voice broke slightly.
“And nobody in my department said a damn thing.”
He swallowed.
“I needed you to know not every badge in this county was bought.”
I looked at him.
“Three weeks.”
“Yes.”
“You waited three weeks.”
His face tightened.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Cowardice.”
The answer stopped me.
No excuse.
No family to blame.
No “I was following orders.”
Just:
Cowardice.
Ferris continued.
“I photographed logs before they could disappear.”
“Why now?”
“Because seeing what they did to her finally made silence harder than telling the truth.”
I took the folder.
Then Dana said:
“Go to the hospital.”
I looked toward her.
“When the warrants go live, I want you beside Emily.”
“Not here.”
“No.”
“Not helping.”
“No.”
The soldier in me hated it.
But the husband understood.
So forty minutes later, I walked into Emily’s hospital room.
She was pale beneath white sheets.
Both legs elevated.
Metal fixation visible beneath the dressings.
She looked at me.
And her face crumpled.
“You’re supposed to be overseas.”
I took her hand.
“I’m supposed to be wherever you are.”
Then Emily started crying.
So did I.
Quietly.
May you like
Because getting home had been the mission.
Everything else came after.
