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A SENIOR OFFICER HUMILIATED HIS COLLEAGUE IN PUBLIC—UNTIL HER SECRET CHANGED EVERYTHING

Chapter 6

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"Other discrepancies were reported previously. The earlier reports were not resolved."Maya remained silent.Helen continued."Your documentation gave us a clearer basis for reopening the review."Maya nodded slowly.She had not been the first person to notice something wrong.She might not even have been the first person to speak.And that meant the investigation could be much larger than she had imagined.CHAPTER 6: THE SECRET FILEAt 4:30 p.m., Maya returned to the main station.The afternoon shift was beginning, and the building had grown noisy again.Richard was standing near the briefing room, speaking with two officers.When he saw Maya, he stopped talking.She walked past him without comment.But before she reached her desk, he called her name."Brooks."Maya turned."Yes, Sergeant?""How did your meeting go?""The review is ongoing.""What did you tell them?""I answered their questions."Richard stepped closer."Did you mention my name?"Maya looked at him."The investigators will determine what information is relevant."His expression darkened."So you did.""I did not say that.""You're trying to destroy me.""No, Sergeant. I reported discrepancies in an investigation."Richard pointed toward the corridor."Come with me."Maya did not move."If you have a work-related instruction, please give it to me here."Several officers looked over.Richard's voice rose."Do you refuse to follow a direct order?"Maya remained calm."I am asking you to clarify the purpose of the meeting.""You don't get to decide when you follow orders.""Understood. Where would you like me to report, and for what purpose?"Richard stared at her.He seemed unable to decide whether to shout or walk away.Finally, he turned toward the officers watching them."Unbelievable."Then he walked into his office and slammed the door.Daniel Reed approached Maya a few minutes later."Are you okay?""I'm fine.""You shouldn't have to deal with that."Maya gave him a small smile."Nobody should."Daniel hesitated."I thought about what you asked me earlier.""About the conversation you overheard?"He nodded."I want to tell the investigators what I heard."Maya looked at him carefully."Then tell them exactly what you remember. Don't add anything you aren't certain about.""I will.""Good."Daniel walked toward the administrative wing.Maya returned to her desk.At 5:12 p.m., a message appeared on her computer.It came from the internal affairs investigator.The message asked her to preserve any original copies of the warehouse records and not to modify the files.Maya opened her secure evidence folder.She had already saved the original documents and their audit histories.But there was one additional item she had not yet included in her report.Three days earlier, she had received an anonymous envelope containing a printed photograph of a warehouse loading dock.The photograph showed a delivery vehicle parked beside a side entrance.In the corner of the image was a timestamp.The date matched one of the unexplained shipments.On the back, someone had written six words:CHECK THE STORAGE ROOM CAMERA.Maya had not included the photograph in her first report because she could not verify its origin. She had placed it in a sealed evidence envelope and documented when and how she received it.Now she retrieved the envelope from her locked drawer.She carried it to the evidence office and informed the technician that she needed to submit an additional item for review.The technician examined the envelope."Do you know who sent it?""No.""Any fingerprints?""Not that I know of."He logged the item."We'll document the submission and arrange for the investigator to review it."Maya signed the receipt and returned to her desk.She did not know who had sent the photograph.She did not know whether it showed a crime.But she knew that someone wanted the storage room camera examined.And she was determined to find out why.CHAPTER 7: THE ROOM WHERE NOBODY SPOKE
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A SENIOR OFFICER HUMILIATED HIS COLLEAGUE IN PUBLIC—UNTIL HER SECRET CHANGED EVERYTHING

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