Chapter 9 - Victoria Makes a Mistake on Purpose
Internal Affairs announced that investigators had recovered Crane’s “primary financial ledger.”
It was not true.
They had plenty of records, but no master ledger.
The press release also said Victoria would personally help transfer evidence to federal court.
Benton looked at her.
“This is aggressive.”
“Crane watches the news.”
“He knows traps exist.”
“Then we make a trap that insults him.”
The transfer convoy suffered a staged mechanical problem on a rural road.
Victoria stepped out where she could be seen.
Nothing happened.
An hour later her phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
Too obvious.
Then:
Your father was better at this.
Victoria typed back:
Then come tell me yourself.
Crane replied:
You still think the badge in your pocket makes you different.
Victoria:
No. You do.
A few minutes later he sent a location pin.
An abandoned weigh station on Route 18.
Come alone. Bring no badge.
Victoria went with hidden federal surveillance positioned far away.
Crane appeared from inside the building.
Older. Unshaven. Calm.
“You came.”
“You wanted to talk.”
“You think this is about money.”
“Isn’t it?”
“Money was useful. Fear was more useful.”
Crane explained his philosophy.
People feared uncertainty more than punishment. A driver knew what a ticket cost. They did not know what a dishonest officer could invent.
Victoria listened.
“You didn’t build power,” she finally said. “You selected people who couldn’t afford to challenge you.”
Crane stepped closer.
“Careful.”
“There it is.”
“What?”
“The threat.”
She looked directly at him.
“The same one you’ve used for twenty years.”
His jaw tightened.
“We can make this difficult.”
Victoria almost smiled.
“Exactly.”
He realized too late he had repeated the phrase tied to dozens of victims.
Recorded now.
Crane moved one hand behind his back.
Federal agents emerged from three directions.
He froze.
His hand came forward empty.
“You thought I had a gun?”
Victoria answered:
May you like
“No. I thought you needed an audience.”
For the first time, Howard Crane looked uncertain.
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