One man near dispatch instinctively reached toward his sidearm. Three federal weapons shifted toward him at once.
“Hands visible,” Reyes said, calm as stone.
The officer complied.
Captain Hale came out of his office with both hands open.
He was pale now. Truly pale. A man who had not slept and knew sleep would not be coming for a very long time.
“Director Reyes,” he said. “This is unnecessary.”
Reyes handed him a warrant packet.
“No, Captain. What was unnecessary happened at Agent Bennett’s home.”
The words traveled through the room.
Agent Bennett.
Every head turned.
Claire stepped in behind him.
A murmur moved across the station like wind through dry leaves.
Some officers looked stunned.
Some looked confused.
Some looked like men who had just seen a casket lowered and realized the name on it was their own.
Kessler appeared in the hallway.
His face was wrecked.
Not from a beating.
