By the time Leah Benson collapsed, half the chemistry class already had their phones out.

The room at the Highway 9 Motel was small and smelled of bleach.

Sitting across from Sadie were Special Agents Elena Reyes and David Chen of the State Bureau of Investigation. On the table between them lay Leah’s laptop, Sadie’s flash drive, and the high-resolution video Sadie had shot through the classroom door window showing Crowe operating the pill press.

Agent Reyes, a sharp-eyed woman with silver-streaked hair, removed her glasses and rubbed her temples. "This audio file is unmistakable. That is Detective Vance's voice discussing distribution logistics."

"I told you," Sadie said quietly. "Vance planted those pills in my bag when he processed my belongings at the scene. He helped Crowe cover up the fact that Leah overdosed on their product."

Agent Chen looked up from his tablet, where he was reviewing the lab video. "The chemical apparatus in this video matches industrial synthetic setups. Mr. Crowe was using high-grade academic equipment funded by state grants to run a drug ring."

"They mentioned a delivery," Sadie said, leaning forward. "In the audio file from last week, Vance said they were delivering a new shipment on Friday at midnight to a contact near the state university campus. That's tonight."

Reyes looked at Sadie with a mix of respect and concern. "Sadie, you're seventeen years old. You've been put through a nightmare, and technically, there is still an active warrant for your arrest issued by the local precinct."

"I don't care about the warrant," Sadie said fiercely. "I care about stopping them before another student ends up in the ICU—or dead. Leah barely survived. If they release that new batch, someone else will end up in the hospital."

Agent Reyes traded a long look with Chen, then nodded slowly. "We're taking over jurisdiction immediately. We will issue an emergency stay on your arrest warrant signed by a state judge within the hour."

"What about the drop tonight?" Chen asked.

"We set a trap," Reyes declared. "We let Crowe and Vance complete the handoff. But we need to make sure Vance doesn't realize he's been compromised until we have him surrounded with the physical product."

She turned back to Sadie. "According to the audio logs, where is the exchange taking place?"

Sadie pulled up the transcript file. "An abandoned chemical storage warehouse on Miller’s Creek Road, near the old rail yard. Crowe keeps his excess precursor chemicals stored in unit 4B."

Agent Reyes stood up, pulling her sidearm holster snug against her jacket. "Agent Chen, call the tactical unit. We're going to Miller’s Creek."

Sadie stood up as well. "I'm coming with you."

"Absolutely not," Reyes said firmly. "It's a tactical operation."

"I know that warehouse," Sadie argued. "My father worked as a maintenance manager for Miller’s Creek Logistics before it shut down five years ago. I know every service door, every ventilation shaft, and every blind spot in that facility. If your tactical team rolls up in marked vans, Vance’s police scanner will catch them a mile away."