When Robert entered, both men immediately looked toward him.
Daniel appeared nervous.
Victor tried to maintain a calm expression.
Robert placed several documents on the table.
Captain Robert Mitchell: "Before we begin, I want both of you to understand that this meeting is part of an official review. Everything discussed here must be accurate and complete."
Victor Hayes: "Of course, Captain."
Daniel Brooks: "Understood, sir."
Robert opened the first file.
Captain Robert Mitchell: "Let's start with the appointment record belonging to Emily Carter."
Victor glanced briefly at Daniel.
It was only a fraction of a second.
But Robert noticed.
Captain Robert Mitchell: "Mr. Hayes, your account was used to change the appointment status shortly before Ms. Carter arrived. Can you explain why?"
Victor adjusted his chair.
Victor Hayes: "There was a procedural concern regarding the documents she was bringing."
Captain Robert Mitchell: "What concern?"
Victor Hayes: "The documents required additional verification."
Captain Robert Mitchell: "Who requested that verification?"
Victor hesitated.
Victor Hayes: "I was informed that the matter needed to be reviewed."
Captain Robert Mitchell: "By whom?"
Victor looked down at the table.
Victor Hayes: "I don't remember the exact instruction."
Robert remained silent.
Then he opened the second file.
Captain Robert Mitchell: "What about this recording?"
He turned the monitor toward them.
The footage showed Victor handing Daniel a folded document.
Daniel looked at the screen.
Victor's expression became noticeably tense.
Captain Robert Mitchell: "Can either of you explain what was being exchanged?"
Daniel opened his mouth.
But before he could speak, Victor interrupted.
Victor Hayes: "It was an ordinary administrative notification."
Robert looked at him.
Captain Robert Mitchell: "Then you should have no difficulty identifying it."
Victor did not answer.
Robert placed another document on the table.
It was the system access report.
Captain Robert Mitchell: "Your account also accessed Emily Carter's file last night. Why?"
Victor Hayes: "I review administrative files regularly."
Captain Robert Mitchell: "That doesn't answer the question."
Victor Hayes: "I was doing my job."
Captain Robert Mitchell: "Then explain why the appointment was changed, why a restriction was added, and why you visited the records department immediately after speaking with Officer Brooks."
Victor's face became pale.
Daniel looked toward him.
For several seconds, neither man spoke.
Then Robert asked a question that changed the atmosphere completely.
Captain Robert Mitchell: "What exactly were you trying to prevent Emily Carter from submitting?"
Victor Hayes: "I wasn't trying to prevent anything."
Captain Robert Mitchell: "Then why was her access restricted?"
Victor Hayes: "There was a misunderstanding."
Captain Robert Mitchell: "A misunderstanding that resulted in a woman being injured?"
Victor remained silent.
Robert leaned forward.
Captain Robert Mitchell: "I want a clear answer. Who instructed you to place that restriction on her file?"
Victor looked toward Daniel.
Daniel looked back at him.
Their expressions suggested that each man was waiting for the other to speak first.
Then Victor slowly opened his mouth.
Victor Hayes: "Captain, I think you need to understand that this matter involves someone much higher than me."
Robert did not move.
Captain Robert Mitchell: "Who?"
Victor swallowed.
Victor Hayes: "The instruction didn't come from my department."
Robert looked directly into his eyes.
Captain Robert Mitchell: "Then where did it come from?"
Victor hesitated again.
And just as he was about to reveal the name, the conference room door suddenly opened.
An administrative assistant entered carrying a sealed envelope.
She looked at Robert, then at Victor.
Administrative Assistant: "Captain Mitchell, this was delivered to your office a few minutes ago. The sender requested that you review it immediately."
Robert accepted the envelope.
There was no return address.
Only his name was written on the front.
He opened it carefully.
Inside was a single printed sheet.
The message was short.
"Stop asking questions about the Carter file. This matter has already been handled at a higher level."
Robert read the sentence twice.
Then he slowly raised his eyes.
Victor was staring at the envelope.
Daniel looked as though he had just realized something.
Robert placed the paper on the table.
Captain Robert Mitchell: "Interesting."
Nobody spoke.
Robert turned toward the administrative assistant.
Captain Robert Mitchell: "Who delivered this?"
Administrative Assistant: "I don't know, sir. It was left at the reception desk."
Robert nodded.
He then looked at Victor.
Captain Robert Mitchell: "You were about to tell me who gave the instruction."
Victor's lips tightened.
Victor Hayes: "I think I should speak with a lawyer before answering any more questions."
Robert closed the folder.
Captain Robert Mitchell: "You have the right to seek advice through the appropriate process. But the evidence already secured will be submitted for independent review."
Daniel shifted in his chair.
Daniel Brooks: "Captain, I didn't know it would become this serious."
Robert turned toward him.
Captain Robert Mitchell: "Then perhaps this is the time to explain everything you know."
Daniel looked at Victor.
Victor shook his head slightly.
It was a small movement.
Almost invisible.
But Daniel saw it.
And Robert saw it too.
The older officer slowly stood.
Captain Robert Mitchell: "We're taking a break. Neither of you is to leave the building without following the instructions of the reviewing officers."
He collected the documents and walked toward the door.
But just before leaving, he turned around.
Captain Robert Mitchell: "One more thing. Whoever sent that envelope may believe that a warning is enough to stop this investigation."
He looked directly at Victor.
Captain Robert Mitchell: "They are mistaken."
Robert left the conference room.
Outside, his phone rang.
It was the compliance officer.
Compliance Officer: "Captain Mitchell, we've reviewed the access history you sent."
Captain Robert Mitchell: "What did you find?"