She holds my gaze. Doesn't back down. "What are you going to do about it?"
Everything. Soon as we're alone and Traci's safe and I don't have to maintain professional discipline in a federal building.
"Later," I say.
"Looking forward to it."
Satisfaction flashes across her expression. Then she goes back to observing the hallway like we're having a normal conversation about witness testimony instead of negotiating exactly how this plays out when we get back.
More time crawls past. Then the testimony room door opens and Traci emerges with Rebecca. Exhaustion shows in every line of her body but there's relief too. She's done what needed doing.
Helena moves forward, checks her over with the automatic assessment of someone who's spent decades treating patients. "You need anything?"
Traci nods. Reaches for her notebook.
I told them everything. Everything I saw, everything I heard. They recorded it all.
"You did great," Helena says. Gentle but certain. "That took courage."
Whitmore appears in the doorway. "We have everything we need. Traci's testimony corroborates the financial evidence, the contractor confessions, and the surveillance data. We're executing the arrest warrant within the hour."
"Where is he?" I ask.
"Graves reported to his office this morning. Standard duty day. He has no idea our office has been building this case." Whitmore's expression hardens. "Federal marshals are coordinating the arrest now. We're using agents from outside Alaska to eliminate any chance of compromise. Graves will be in custody before he knows what's happening."
"And then?"
"Processing, arraignment, federal detention pending trial. Given the charges and his access to resources, bail will be denied. He'll stay locked up until prosecution." Whitmore turns back to Traci. "Thank you for your testimony. You may have saved lives today by helping us shut down this network."
Traci just nods. Too exhausted for more response.
We head back downstairs. Federal marshals maintain security during extraction. Load Traci into the middle vehicle, establish convoy formation, begin the return trip.
A different tension this time. Mission accomplished. Witness testimony delivered. Arrest warrant executing.
Graves is going down.
Traci falls asleep within minutes. Helena sits beside her in the back seat, one hand resting on the kid's shoulder. She's protective and gentle in ways I'm not built for.
I drive. Mirrors show the area clear. Communications stay quiet. I'm running on autopilot while part of my brain processes what just happened and another part tracks Helena in the rearview.
The way she touches Traci. How she'd touched me last night. Those hands that knew exactly where to apply pressure, where to ease up, how to take someone apart.
Stop. Mission focus.
My phone buzzes. Text from Cara:
Arrest in progress. Federal marshals on site at Graves's office. Will update when custody confirmed.
I show Helena. She reads it, nods, goes back to her watch over Traci sleeping.
More driving time passes. Mountains sliding past, convoy holding formation.
Then my phone buzzes again.
Cara:
Graves in custody. Arrested without incident. Federal detention, no bail. It's over.
