Page 130 of Whispers in the Dark
“Uh—yeah. Why?”
“Stand and place your hands on the desk.”
“What? What’s going on?—?”
“You’re under arrest for obstruction of justice, conspiracy to commit aggravated assault, and unlawful facilitation of human experimentation.”
The color drained from Pratt’s face. “You can’t… This has to be a mistake. I didn’t?—”
The second deputy already had him cuffed. “You can explain it to the federal prosecutor.”
As they hauled him away, they walked him straight past two stunned nurses and a plainclothes IT forensics agent already seizing his workstation.
Dr. Elaine Fields’ Residence – Waverly Heights, 11:07 a.m.
She answered the door in scrubs, keys in hand, expecting to head to work.
Instead, she found Graham Cullen and Brad Killian on her doorstep.
“Dr. Elaine Fields,” Brad said smoothly. “You’re coming with us.”
She froze. “What? Why? Has something happened at the prison?”
Graham’s voice was iron. “We know what you did. You helped Elias Ward—or should I say Elias Fields?—to come and go undetected. You never registered his birth. You doctored medical records. You lied to investigators. You stood by and let innocent people be turned into lab rats.”
Her face broke. “I… I tried to stop it.”
“No, you didn’t,” Brad cut in. “You let it happen.” He turned her around gently but firmly, cuffing her wrists. “You were right about one thing, though. It is over.”
She didn’t resist.
As they walked her down the steps, her voice broke behind them, “Tell Sybil I’m sorry.”
Warden Shepler’s Office – Administrative Block, 12:39 p.m.
Ethan entered with two U.S. Marshals, badge clipped to his belt, warrant in hand.
Warden Shepler barely looked up from her desk. “I assume this isn’t a courtesy visit.”
“No,” Ethan said flatly. “I think you know why we’re here.”
She glanced toward her security console, already dead. It had been jammed remotely fifteen minutes earlier.
“I want my attorney.”
“You’ll get one.”
“Am I being charged?”
“Multiple counts,” Ethan said, stepping forward. “Obstruction, endangerment, conspiracy to cover up unlawful experimentation, and trafficking human subjects.”
She sat back in her chair, smiling faintly. “You’re a little late, Agent.”
Ethan stared at her, unmoving. “It’s FBI Special Agent Hayes, and I’m right on time.”
The marshals took her by the arms and escorted her out through the main hall. Her staff watched in frozen silence as their warden was marched out under federal custody.
Harbor Ridge Marina – Near the Fort Pierre-Missouri River Boat Docks, 1:11 p.m.
