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Kane stays behind until Cruz places a third officer at the private entrance.

Nobody speaks while we cross the enclosed walkway connecting the hospital to the county substation.

Will carries the backpack.

Taylor holds the scanner.

Hayley and Sage walk between us.

Arthur waits at the substation entrance with Holt.

Both men stare at the bag.

Arthur opens the door.

“Please tell me we did not fly across two states carrying Navarro’s ledger.”

“We flew across two states carrying Navarro’s ledger,” Sage says.

Arthur looks at me.

“I asked her not to tell me that.”

“I don’t follow orders well.”

“We noticed.”

The interview room is small.

One metal table.

Six chairs.

A camera above the door.

Cruz shuts down the recording system before we enter.

Taylor scans the backpack again.

No electronics.

No transmitter.

No explosive material.

Will places it on the table.

Sage moves forward.

I block her.

“It’s my bag.”

“I know.”

“I know where the seams are.”

“That doesn’t mean you touch it first.”