Page 311 of Rangers Last Promise

“His confession was recorded,” Sheriff Tate says. “It has already been secured outside Eagle River.”

“You think one dead criminal’s accusation will convict me?”

“No,” I say. “But twenty-three bodies will.”

“They cannot be connected to me.”

“Grant’s evidence can.”

His gaze sharpens.

There.

The first real crack.

“You don’t know what Grant found.”

“I know enough.”

“You have a key without a case.”

“We have the third envelope.”

“You haven’t opened it.”

I don’t answer.

Harlan smiles.

“You don’t know where the case is.”

Neither does he.

That’s why he came back.

Not only to destroy the key.

He still needs Grant’s directions.

“You spent fifteen years looking for that evidence,” I say.

“I spent fifteen years correcting Grant’s mistakes.”

“Grant’s only mistake was trusting his command.”

Harlan’s smile disappears.

“Your brother endangered national security.”

“He found twenty-three murdered men.”

“They were compromised assets.”

“They were human beings.”

“They were liabilities.”

The words echo through the station.