Page 51 of Close Protection

"The Chief's second in command," Morgan confirmed. "Your direct supervisor."

Julia's fingers tightened around the table edge, knuckles white. Lieutenant Allison Harper—twenty-year veteran, head of Detective Division, mentor since Julia's first day in the department. The woman who'd handed Julia her detective's shield. Who'd recommended her for the special witness protection rotation. Who'd told Julia she reminded her of Julia's grandmother—the legendaryMarie Scott, first female detective in Phoenix Ridge history.

All of it, a lie.

"Evidence?" Julia forced her voice to remain flat, professional detachment her only shield against the emotional blow.

"Financial patterns," Morgan replied, sliding the tablet toward her. "Harper's made three major purchases this year: vacation property in Aspen, daughter's tuition at Stanford, and new boat at the marina."

"She said her father died and left her an inheritance." Julia scanned the data, searching for any alternative explanation, any possibility that would preserve her image of the woman she'd trusted.

"No record of any inheritance," Morgan said gently. "Her father's actually living in Florida."

Ivy reached for the tablet. "May I?"

Julia nodded, relinquishing the device. She watched Ivy's eyes darting across the information, the forensic accountant's mind visibly processing patterns.

"These aren't direct payments," Ivy noted. "They're disguised as investment returns, but the timing correlates exactly with departmentoperations related to Knox." She traced a specific sequence. "The Harborview sting that went sideways? Harper received a fifty thousand dollar 'dividend' the very next day."

"How far back?" Julia asked, her voice hollow.

"Two years, three months. The first payment came right after her promotion to head of Detective Division."

"Which gave her access to all operational details," Morgan added. "Including witness protection protocols."

The implications crystallized with brutal clarity. Harper hadn't just been feeding information; she'd been systematically compromising department operations for years.

"That's why Knox knew to target me specifically," Julia said, pieces falling into place with sickening precision. "Harper assigned me to Ivy's protection detail."

"She's always given you the high-risk cases," Morgan noted. "You're the department's golden girl. Perfect cover for operations they want to control—or sabotage."

A muscle jumped in Julia's jaw as she fought to maintain composure. She'd been a pawn—used by someone she'd trusted,someone who'd mentored her. More than professional betrayal, this was personal. Harper had looked her in the eye for years, knowing she was compromising everything Julia stood for.

"Chief Marten has been gathering evidence in secret," Morgan continued. "But the case needs to be airtight before we move."

"So we're stuck in limbo," Julia concluded. "With my direct supervisor reporting to Knox."

"Not exactly," Lavender interjected. "Chief Marten has authorized a compartmentalized operation. Detective Rivers is your only official contact now."

Julia absorbed this, feeling the institutional structure she'd relied on her entire career crumbling beneath her. Cut off from the department, from the system and hierarchy that had defined her professionally since academy graduation.

"The Chief asked me to give you this," Morgan said, passing a small flash drive. "Eyes only. New protocols, secure communication channels."

Julia pocketed it without comment, attention shifting to tactical considerations. "Weneed contingencies. If Harper's compromised, others might be too."

"That's why we brought you here," Morgan explained. "This place isn't on any police registry."

Lavender nodded. "The Heights district has a long history of providing sanctuary. My café is just one node in a network that predates any of us."

"Women helping women," Morgan elaborated. "Community-run, completely independent from official channels."

The revelation shifted Julia's understanding of her own city. Beneath the surface lay deeper networks of protection, invisible unless you knew where to look, a parallel system that might now be their only safety net.

"We should move," Julia said, rising. "The longer we stay in one location, the greater the risk."

"There's a delivery van in the back," Lavender offered. "Clean registration, no connection to the department."

At the stairs, Julia paused, struggling to find words adequate for the situation. "Thank you," she said finally, the simplephrase carrying the weight of everything she couldn't articulate.

---