Because inside the wallet was an identification card bearing the seal of the United States Department of Justice.
And beneath it was a second card.
The name on it was Victoria Lane.
Federal Investigator.
Office of Inspector General.
The taller officer’s hand began to shake.
Victoria looked over her shoulder.
“Now,” she said quietly, “perhaps we can discuss why you stopped me.”
Victoria had spent the previous year investigating financial misconduct involving a private transportation contractor that operated across three counties.
The company, Northstar Highway Services, had been awarded millions of dollars in public contracts.
Its responsibilities included road maintenance, emergency response, and traffic safety equipment.
But according to confidential complaints, the company had been charging taxpayers for work it never completed.
Invoices listed roads that had supposedly been repaired.
Equipment purchases appeared on official documents.
Overtime payments had been approved for employees who claimed they had worked overnight shifts.
The money disappeared through a complicated network of subcontractors and consulting companies.
At first, it looked like ordinary financial misconduct.
Then Victoria discovered something more disturbing.
Several local law-enforcement officers were connected to the company.
Some had received unexplained payments.
Others had relatives employed by subcontractors.
And a small number appeared to have used their authority to intimidate people who asked questions.
Victoria’s investigation had been confidential.
Only a handful of federal officials knew the full scope of it.
She had been traveling that afternoon to meet an accountant who had agreed to provide original records.
She never made it to the meeting.
Because Officers Grant and Miller were waiting on the roadside.
Grant stared at Victoria’s identification card.
“You’re with the Department of Justice?”
Victoria nodded.
“Office of Inspector General.”
Miller took a step backward.
The confidence in his face had disappeared.
Grant looked at the wallet again.
Then at Victoria.
“Why didn’t you tell us that?”
Victoria gave him a tired smile.
“I tried to tell you I had done nothing wrong.”
“That doesn’t explain why you’re carrying federal credentials.”
“It doesn’t need to.”
Grant quickly removed the handcuffs.
The metal scraped against Victoria’s wrists as they fell open.
She rubbed her hands.
The skin was red where the cuffs had tightened.
Miller glanced toward the patrol vehicle.
“We made a mistake.”
Victoria looked at him.
