"I keep thinking I should've ignored the invoices."
I looked toward the window.
Outside, my father's garden was bright beneath the afternoon sun.
"You noticed something wrong and asked for help."
Her voice trembled.
"And now people are getting hurt."
I swallowed.
"You're not responsible for the choices made by the people trying to hide what they did."
There was a long silence.
Then she whispered, "I'm glad you're alive."
The words caught me off guard.
For a moment, I couldn't speak.
Then I answered.
"Me too."
After the call, I sat alone on the porch.
My father came outside carrying two glasses of lemonade.
He handed me one.
Then sat beside me.
"Bad news?"
I looked toward the street.
"Somebody threatened my source."
His expression hardened.
"Do you think they're connected to the man who stopped you?"
"I think there's a strong possibility."
He nodded slowly.
Then asked, "What are you going to do?"
I considered the question.
Every part of me wanted to get back to work immediately.
I wanted interviews.
Records.
Warrants.
Answers.
I wanted to stand in front of Garrett and ask him who had ordered the stop.
I wanted to know how many people inside the sheriff's department had been helping Westbrook Recovery.
And I wanted to make certain nobody else would end up sitting handcuffed beside a damaged vehicle because a deputy believed his authority was more important than the law.
But I was also exhausted.
My wrists still hurt.
I hadn't slept properly.
And every unexpected loud sound made my heart jump.
So I gave my father an answer he didn't expect.
"I'm going to recover enough to think clearly."
He looked toward me.
Then smiled.
"Good."
I stared.
"That's all?"
He nodded.
"That's the first sensible thing you've said since the hospital."
I laughed.
He leaned back.
"Your job will still be there after you sleep."
I looked toward the garden.
For the first time since the traffic stop, I allowed myself to believe that healing was not the same as abandoning the investigation.
The broader case continued without me.
Federal civilian investigators became involved because the evidence suggested both a conspiracy involving stolen government property and possible violations of federal civil-rights law. Army CID coordinated its investigation into the missing equipment and the military-connected participants, while the FBI and state authorities pursued the civilian corruption and misconduct allegations within their respective jurisdictions.
The agencies shared information through formal channels.
They didn't simply exchange rumors.
Each team had to establish what evidence it possessed, how that evidence had been obtained, and what legal authority supported the next investigative step.
That process wasn't as exciting as a television raid.
It involved records.
Interviews.
Account reconciliations.
Subpoenas.
Court-authorized searches.