Three letters had been scratched into the paint.
J.H.
James Holloway.
Ethan stood.
The old detective.
The missing file.
The evidence box.
The teenager.
Mercer.
The pieces were no longer scattered.
They were beginning to form a picture.
But Ethan still didn't know the most important part.
Who had taught Mercer?
Who had taught Holloway?
And who had been protecting them for twelve years?
At 10:07, Ethan returned to his office.
He found Mercer waiting outside.
The sergeant looked exhausted.
“You wanted to see me?”
Ethan nodded.
“Come inside.”
Mercer entered.
Ethan closed the door.
“Where were you tonight?”
“At home.”
“Anyone with you?”
Mercer frowned.
“Why?”
“Answer the question.”
“My wife.”
“Anyone else?”
“No.”
Ethan watched him.
“Do you know what Box 741 is?”
Mercer's face changed.
Only slightly.
But Ethan saw it.
“No.”
Ethan said nothing.
Mercer looked at him.
“What?”
“You answered too quickly.”
“I don't know what you're talking about.”
Ethan opened the drawer.
He removed the photograph of Tyler.
Mercer saw it.
His face went completely still.
Ethan placed it on the desk.
“Who is he?”
Mercer stared at the photograph.
After several seconds, he said, “Tyler Morgan.”
“You remember him.”
“Yes.”
“Tell me about him.”
Mercer looked away.
“He was a kid who got arrested.”
“For drugs.”
“Yes.”
“Did you plant them?”
Mercer looked back at Ethan.
“No.”
“Did James Holloway?”
“No.”
“Who did?”
Mercer stood.
“I think we're done.”
Ethan didn't move.
“You're not going anywhere.”
Mercer looked at the door.
“You can't detain me.”
“I haven't.”
“Then why are you blocking the door?”
“Because I want an answer.”
Mercer's breathing changed.
Ethan lowered his voice.
“What happened after the camera stopped recording?”
Mercer froze.
Ethan watched him carefully.
The question had landed.
Mercer knew exactly what Ethan meant.
He looked down at the photograph.
Then he whispered something.
“I didn't know he would die.”
Ethan felt the room go silent.
“What?”
Mercer closed his eyes.
“I didn't know.”
Ethan stepped closer.
“Who?”
Mercer didn't answer.
“Who did you think would die?”
Mercer opened his eyes.
“Tyler.”
Ethan stared at him.
“Start talking.”
Mercer shook his head.
“You don't understand.”
“Then explain.”
“I was a patrol officer.”
“Twelve years ago.”
“Yes.”
“You arrested Tyler.”
“Yes.”
“You were with Holloway.”
Mercer nodded.
“Who ordered the arrest?”
Mercer said nothing.
Ethan's voice became colder.
“Who?”
Mercer looked at the floor.
“Captain Pike.”
Ethan already knew the name.
“What did Pike tell you?”
Mercer swallowed.
“He told us to bring the boy in.”
“For what?”
“To scare him.”
Ethan stared at him.
“Why?”
“Because Tyler had something.”
“What?”
Mercer looked at Ethan.
“A recording.”
Ethan felt his heartbeat change.
“What recording?”
Mercer shook his head.
“I never heard it.”
“Then how did you know about it?”
“Because Holloway told me.”
“What did Holloway say?”
Mercer looked toward the door.
“He said the boy had recorded a conversation.”
“Whose conversation?”
Mercer didn't answer.
Ethan stepped closer.
“Mercer.”
The sergeant looked at him.
“Captain Pike's.”
“With whom?”
Mercer closed his eyes.
Then he said the words.
“Deputy Chief Langley.”
Ethan stood completely still.
The room suddenly felt smaller.
Mercer continued.
“They were talking about evidence.”
“What evidence?”
“I don't know.”
“Don't lie.”
“I'm not.”
“Then tell me everything.”
Mercer sat down.
His shoulders dropped.
“I was young.”
Ethan said nothing.
“I thought it was just another order.”
“What order?”
“Take the evidence from the warehouse.”
“Which warehouse?”
“The old River Street warehouse.”
“Where Tyler was found?”
“Yes.”
Mercer rubbed his face.
“We were told there was a bag inside.”
“Was there?”
“Yes.”
“Drugs?”
Mercer nodded.
“Who put them there?”
“I don't know.”
“You were there.”
“I didn't see.”
“Then what did you do?”
Mercer looked at Ethan.
“I carried the bag.”
“To the station?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Before Tyler was booked.”
Ethan understood.
The evidence log.
The bag existed before the arrest.
Mercer had carried it.
Someone else had created it.
“Who logged it?”
Mercer shook his head.
“Pike.”
Ethan stared at him.
“And the evidence number?”
Mercer looked at the photograph.
“Seven-four-one.”
The room went silent.
Ethan finally understood why the box had been removed.
Someone was erasing the last physical piece of the original evidence.
He looked at Mercer.
“Where is Box 741 now?”
Mercer didn't answer.
Ethan's voice hardened.
“Where?”
Mercer looked at him.
“I don't know.”
“You know.”
“I swear.”
Ethan watched him.
Then Mercer said something that changed everything.
“The box wasn't supposed to be in the evidence room.”
Ethan frowned.
“Where was it supposed to be?”
Mercer whispered the answer.
“Captain Pike's office.”
Ethan stared at him.
And for the first time that night, he realized the evidence trail had never started with Tyler Morgan.
It had started before Tyler.
The teenager had simply found it.
And twelve years later, Ethan Brooks had walked into Lakewood Police Department and unknowingly stepped onto the same trail.