ord has somehow leaked that the U.S. Attorney General is making an unscheduled personal visit. Inside his private chambers, Judge Harmon paces nervously, phone pressed tightly to his ear. Senator, you promised me protection if anything like this ever happened.
Yes, I’ve always ruled in favor of your interests when it mattered. I understand politics as well as anyone, but this is my entire career on the line. He finally slams the phone down in frustration. His clerk enters looking pale. Sir, there are FBI agents already waiting in the main lobby.
FBI? Taylor isn’t wasting any time at all. Judge Harmon straightens his robes with shaking hands, attempting to reclaim some dignity.
Meanwhile, Devon and his father arrive together through a private side entrance reserved for high-level officials. Robert Taylor is tall and distinguished, carrying the same calm, measured demeanor as his son.
Several FBI agents flank them discreetly. You okay? Robert asks quietly as they walk. Better now that you’re here, Devon replies.
I never meant for any of this to escalate so far. You stood your ground with complete respect and dignity. I’m proud of you for that. Robert squeezes his son’s shoulder firmly. But this situation is no longer just about your science project.
They enter a large conference room where Laura Chen is already waiting along with several senior Justice Department officials. Detailed maps of the city cover one entire wall, with specific neighborhoods highlighted in bright red.
Ms. Chen has been invaluable to our preliminary work, an aide tells Robert. She’s already compiled substantial evidence of Judge Harmon’s long-standing pattern of discriminatory rulings. Laura nods in confirmation
. It correlates directly and precisely with the air quality data Devon collected. The neighborhoods with the poorest environmental protections match exactly with the areas where Judge Harmon’s sentences against minority defendants have been consistently most severe.
Robert studies the maps in silence for a long moment. And these same neighborhoods correlate perfectly with Senator Whitfield’s private development investments. Another aide confirms the finding. The senator’s network of shell companies has been systematically buying property in these exact areas for years, always after environmental regulations were selectively left unenforced.
