Sarah joined.
Ryker sat without sunglasses.
For the first time, she saw his eyes clearly.
They were tired.
Smaller than she expected.
He looked at her.
“I didn't know.”
Sarah sat.
“About my rank?”
“The operation.”
“That is not what I'm asking about.”
He knew.
“You want Shaw.”
Sarah did not react.
Clark closed his eyes.
His client had just volunteered the name.
Ortiz almost smiled.
Sarah said:
“Tell us.”
Ryker stared at the table.
“Three years ago my brother towed a commercial truck.”
“Electronics disappeared.”
“Insurance covered it.”
“Nolan made twenty grand.”
“He told me afterward.”
“What did you do?”
“Nothing.”
“That made you part of it.”
“I know.”
“Continue.”
“Shaw came later.”
“Retired Army guy.”
“Said some government shipments could be redirected the same way.”
“He knew routes.”
“Mechanical stop.”
“Tow.”
“Hold overnight.”
“Truck leaves.”
“Seals replaced.”
“What did you receive?”
“First time?”
“Yes.”
“Twenty-five thousand.”
Sarah kept her face still.
“Later?”
“Forty.”
“Then fifty.”
“Each shipment?”
“Yes.”
“Did you know what was inside?”
“No.”
She stared.
Ryker corrected:
“Not exactly.”
“That means yes.”
“I knew electronics.”
“Defense equipment.”
“Controlled?”
He hesitated.
“Yes.”
Sarah leaned back.
“And you arrested the deputy director of the task force investigating you.”
Ryker looked miserable.
“When you put it that way…”
“There is no flattering way to put it.”
Ortiz asked:
“Did you contact Shaw after arresting General Hayes?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“I was going to.”
“What stopped you?”
Ryker looked toward the wall.
“The red phone.”
Sarah almost laughed.
She did not.
“Did Shaw know I was coming?”
“I don't think so.”
“Then why did you stop me?”
His answer came quietly.
“Because I wanted to.”
There it was.
No conspiracy.
No mastermind ordering the stop.
No elaborate trap.
Just authority indulging itself.
Sarah looked at him.
“That may be the most useful thing you've said.”
He frowned.
“Why?”
“Because people will want to tell themselves the traffic stop was part of the smuggling conspiracy.”
“It wasn't.”
“You made that decision all by yourself.”
Ryker looked away.
Sarah continued.