Another involved an evidence-handling complaint.
Ethan read quickly.
The pattern was obvious.
Mercer had been accused of excessive force four times in eighteen months.
Only one complaint had resulted in an internal investigation.
The others had been classified as unfounded.
Ethan looked at Collins.
“Why didn't Professional Standards have this?”
“They did.”
“Then why wasn't it in the file?”
Collins didn't answer.
Ethan turned another page.
A handwritten note appeared in the margin.
“Supervisor review completed.”
No signature.
No date.
Ethan looked up.
“Who wrote this?”
“I don't know.”
“You kept a copy.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I was afraid the original would disappear.”
Ethan closed the folder.
“When did you make the copy?”
“Six months ago.”
“Why didn't you report it?”
Collins looked at him.
“I did.”
“To whom?”
“The deputy chief.”
“What happened?”
“He told me to stop digging.”
Ethan's expression hardened.
“Who?”
“Robert Langley.”
Ethan remembered the deputy chief's face from the morning meeting.
The calm voice.
The carefully chosen answers.
The man who had said there were seventeen internal investigations involving sworn personnel.
Ethan opened the folder again.
“Anything else?”
Collins hesitated.
“Yes.”
She reached into the cabinet again.
This time she pulled out a small envelope.
She handed it to Ethan.
He opened it.
Inside was a photocopy of an old department memo.
The subject line read:
SUPERVISORY COMPLAINT REVIEW PROCEDURE.
Ethan read it.
Then he looked at Collins.
“This procedure was replaced.”
“I know.”
“When?”
“Three years ago.”
“Why is this copy here?”
Collins took a breath.
“Because someone has been using the old procedure to close complaints.”
Ethan stared at her.
“How many?”
“I don't know.”
“You don't know?”
“I stopped counting.”
Ethan looked down at the memo.
“What are you asking me to do?”
Collins looked at him.
“Nothing.”
Ethan raised an eyebrow.
“Nothing?”
“Not yet.”
“Why?”
“Because if you move too quickly, whoever is doing this will know I told you.”
Ethan understood.
“You think you're being watched.”
“I know I am.”
She reached into her pocket.
Then she placed her phone on the table.
The screen showed a photograph.
It was Collins leaving the station the previous evening.
Someone had taken the photograph from across the street.
Ethan looked at it.
“When?”
“Yesterday.”
“Who took it?”
“I don't know.”
“Did you report it?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because the person who took it knew where I lived.”
Ethan looked up.
“Have you been followed?”
“Twice.”
“Any threats?”
“No.”
“That doesn't make it less serious.”
Collins nodded.
“I know.”
Ethan looked at the photograph again.
“You should have told Commissioner Hayes.”
“I didn't know who to trust.”
Ethan said nothing.
Collins looked directly at him.
“Now I know.”
Ethan closed the folder.
“You trust me?”
“No.”
The answer surprised him.
Collins continued.
“I don't know you.”
Ethan nodded.
“Good.”
She frowned.
“Good?”
“I'd rather you verify me than trust me.”
Collins gave a small smile.
“That sounds like you.”
Ethan looked at her.
“Who else knows about these files?”
“No one.”
“Mercer?”
“No.”
“Langley?”
“I don't think so.”
“Commissioner Hayes?”
“No.”
Ethan stood.
“Then we're going to do something.”
“What?”
“We're going to put this file back exactly where you found it.”
Collins looked confused.
“Why?”
“Because whoever is watching you believes the information is still hidden.”
“And then?”
Ethan opened the door.
“We find out who comes looking for it.”
Collins stared at him.
“You want to bait them?”
“I want to observe them.”
She shook her head.
“You really don't like moving quickly.”
“I like moving carefully.”
They returned to the hallway.
Neither noticed a small red light on a security camera above the door.
It blinked once.
Then again.
At 2:15 that afternoon, Ethan received a call from the city attorney.
“Chief Brooks?”
“Yes.”
“This is Michael Grant.”
“I know.”
“I've been asked to discuss your appointment.”
Ethan waited.
“There are concerns.”
“From whom?”
“The council.”
“Which members?”
“I can't disclose that.”
Ethan almost smiled.
“You can.”
Silence.
Then Grant sighed.
“Two council members believe the department needs stability, not another investigation.”
“I haven't announced an investigation.”
“They know your reputation.”
“What reputation?”
“That you change things.”
Ethan looked through the office window.
“I was hired to change things.”
“That may be the problem.”
Ethan said nothing.
Grant continued.
“There are also concerns about your relationship with the commissioner.”
“I barely know her.”
“Exactly.”
Ethan frowned.
“What does that mean?”
“Some believe she selected you because you will investigate senior command.”
Ethan leaned back.
“Is that true?”
“I don't know.”
“Do you?”
“I've heard things.”
“What things?”
Grant lowered his voice.
“That there is a faction inside the department that doesn't want you here.”
Ethan looked at the photograph from the morning.
“That's not exactly news.”
Grant paused.
“There is one more issue.”
“What?”
“The council received a complaint about you.”
Ethan laughed quietly.
“Already?”
“It was filed at 11:47 this morning.”