At the gala, they met briefly in a private service corridor.
The administrator was a petite woman in her forties wearing a simple black dress. Her hands shook as she passed over a sealed document package.
"I don't think you understand how far this goes," she whispered.
The agent accepted the package.
"Tell me what you're most worried about."
The administrator looked toward the ballroom doors.
"They've been getting warnings before inspections."
"Who?"
"The foundation's executives. Sometimes they know which records investigators are requesting before the requests arrive."
The agent remained silent.
The administrator leaned closer.
"And there's a person inside the police department helping them."
The agent studied her.
"Do you have evidence of that?"
The administrator nodded.
"Inside the files."
"Have you reviewed everything?"
"Not everything. I only copied records I had legitimate access to through my job."
"Good."
The administrator swallowed.
"I don't want to get anybody hurt."
"Neither do I."
The agent checked her watch.
A coordinated transfer had been arranged that afternoon. The source documents would be placed in formal federal custody, while the independent transfer team confirmed their condition and recorded the chain of possession.
The black reinforced case was prepared for that purpose.
But the agent had also been scheduled to meet with the Asheford police chief.
The chief had assured federal representatives that he was cooperating with the investigation.
He had offered a controlled meeting area inside headquarters for a brief exchange of information concerning local records.