Evelyn considered the question.
EVELYN CARTER: "If the evidence leads to someone I know, I will report what the evidence shows."
GENERAL MICHAEL HARRINGTON: "Even if it affects your career?"
EVELYN CARTER: "Especially then."
The general looked at her for a long moment.
GENERAL MICHAEL HARRINGTON: "I thought you might say that."
Outside the conference room, the security commander approached Daniel with a tablet.
SECURITY COMMANDER: "Captain, we identified the source of the attempted footage export."
Daniel stopped.
DANIEL REEVES: "Who was it?"
SECURITY COMMANDER: "The request was initiated using an administrative terminal assigned to the facility director's office."
DANIEL REEVES: "Can you identify the person?"
SECURITY COMMANDER: "The terminal was logged in under a shared administrative account. But the building access records show that one individual entered the office shortly before the request was made."
DANIEL REEVES: "Who?"
The commander turned the tablet around.
A name appeared on the screen.
Daniel's expression changed.
DANIEL REEVES: "Are you certain?"
SECURITY COMMANDER: "The access card and camera records match."
DANIEL REEVES: "Does the individual know you've identified them?"
SECURITY COMMANDER: "Not yet."
Daniel looked toward the conference room.
He knew that this information could change the direction of the investigation.
The person who had attempted to export the recording was not a random technician.
It was someone who had been present during the earlier administrative discussions surrounding Richard Lawson's company.
Someone who had access to the very records Evelyn was now trying to preserve.
Daniel returned to the conference room and handed the tablet to the general.
DANIEL REEVES: "Sir, we identified the person who accessed the security terminal."
The general read the name.
His face became still.
GENERAL MICHAEL HARRINGTON: "You're certain?"
DANIEL REEVES: "The access logs and camera footage are consistent."
Evelyn stepped closer.
EVELYN CARTER: "Who was it?"
The general slowly turned the tablet toward her.
Evelyn read the name.
For the first time that afternoon, her composure showed the smallest sign of surprise.
It was Samuel Price.
The deputy director who had requested control of the incident investigation.
The same official whose administrative account had accessed the missing technical assessment.
And the man who had recommended that the institution maintain a favorable relationship with Richard Lawson.
Evelyn looked up.
EVELYN CARTER: "We need to secure his office."
GENERAL MICHAEL HARRINGTON: "We cannot make assumptions based on an access record alone."
EVELYN CARTER: "I'm not suggesting we accuse him. I'm suggesting we preserve the evidence before it disappears."
GENERAL MICHAEL HARRINGTON: "Agreed."
He picked up the telephone.
GENERAL MICHAEL HARRINGTON: "This is General Harrington. I need the legal office and the independent investigative unit in my conference room immediately."
He listened.
GENERAL MICHAEL HARRINGTON: "Yes. This is urgent."
He ended the call.
Outside, the building had begun returning to its normal rhythm. Staff members moved through the corridors, security officers continued their checks, and the remaining guests were being escorted from the premises.
But inside the conference room, the atmosphere had become increasingly tense.
Evelyn looked again at the name on the tablet.
The man who had attempted to control the investigation might now be connected to the missing report.
And if that connection was real, the confrontation at the ceremony was only the visible beginning of something much larger.
A few minutes later, the general's phone rang again.
He answered.
GENERAL MICHAEL HARRINGTON: "Harrington speaking."
A voice responded on the other end.
The general listened without interrupting.
His expression slowly changed.
GENERAL MICHAEL HARRINGTON: "When did he leave?"
Another pause.
GENERAL MICHAEL HARRINGTON: "Did he take anything with him?"
Evelyn watched him carefully.
The general stood straighter.
GENERAL MICHAEL HARRINGTON: "Do not approach him alone. Preserve the building records and notify the investigative unit."
He ended the call.
DANIEL REEVES: "Sir?"
The general looked toward Evelyn.
GENERAL MICHAEL HARRINGTON: "Samuel Price has left the building."
EVELYN CARTER: "Did he know about the investigation?"
GENERAL MICHAEL HARRINGTON: "We don't know."
DANIEL REEVES: "Was he carrying anything?"
The general glanced at the report.
GENERAL MICHAEL HARRINGTON: "A briefcase."
Evelyn looked at the timeline once more.
EVELYN CARTER: "Then we need to know what was inside it."
The general nodded.
GENERAL MICHAEL HARRINGTON: "And we need to find him before anyone else has the opportunity to interfere."
Evelyn's phone vibrated again.
Another message from the unknown number appeared.
"PRICE IS NOT THE ONE YOU SHOULD BE WORRIED ABOUT."
She stared at the words.
A second message followed almost immediately.
"THE ORIGINAL REPORT IS NOT IN HIS OFFICE."
Evelyn looked toward Daniel.
DANIEL REEVES: "Another message?"
She handed him the phone.
Daniel read it and looked up.
DANIEL REEVES: "Whoever this is knows where the report went."
EVELYN CARTER: "Or they want us to believe they do."
The general stepped closer.
GENERAL MICHAEL HARRINGTON: "Can we trace the number?"
DANIEL REEVES: "The security team is working on it."
EVELYN CARTER: "Don't respond. We need to establish whether the sender has legitimate access to the records."
The phone vibrated once more.
This time, the message contained a photograph.
It showed a document folder lying on a desk.
The label was partially visible.
ORIGINAL TECHNICAL ASSESSMENT β CONFIDENTIAL.
Beneath it was a handwritten note.
"ASK WHO SIGNED THE SECOND REPORT."
Evelyn enlarged the image.
The folder appeared to be inside an office, but the background was too limited to identify the location.
She looked at the general.
EVELYN CARTER: "Who signed the second assessment?"
GENERAL MICHAEL HARRINGTON: "The committee chair was listed as Samuel Price."
EVELYN CARTER: "And the technical approval?"
The general opened the folder again.
He turned to the final page.
There were three signatures.
One belonged to Price.
The second belonged to a regional engineering supervisor.