Chapter 9 - A Familiar Signature
Rain finally began to ease, leaving only scattered drops falling onto the damaged vehicles.
Traffic slowly returned to normal, but the investigation had only begun.
Brooks spread several documents across the hood of his unmarked car.
Walter studied them carefully.
Most people would have seen random paperwork.
Walter saw habits.
Patterns.
The way addresses were abbreviated.
The way dates were written.
Even the identical black marker used to circle license plates.
After several quiet minutes, Walter spoke.
"The handwriting isn't Derek's."
Brooks looked surprised.
"You can tell?"
Walter nodded.
"Too disciplined."
He pointed toward one page.
"Derek writes quickly. Whoever prepared these notes writes like someone trained to file reports."
Kyle accidentally looked up.
Only for a second.
Walter caught it.
"So you've met him," Walter said.
Kyle immediately shook his head.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"You looked at Derek before answering."
"No, I didn't."
Walter didn't argue.
Instead, he simply smiled.
Brooks noticed the exchange.
"So there is another person."
Walter answered softly.
"There usually is."
Brooks closed the folder.
"If you're right, today's crash may have exposed an entire organization."
Walter looked toward the highway stretching into the distance.
May you like
"I hope we're not already too late."
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