INVESTIGATIVE TEAM LEADER: "General, I have an update on Colonel Mitchell."
GENERAL MICHAEL HARRINGTON: "Go ahead."
INVESTIGATIVE TEAM LEADER: "We located his last known address. He is not there. His vehicle was recorded entering Meridian Storage and Logistics approximately forty minutes ago."
Evelyn looked at Daniel.
DANIEL REEVES: "The same facility connected to the archive access."
GENERAL MICHAEL HARRINGTON: "Do we know why he went there?"
INVESTIGATIVE TEAM LEADER: "Not yet."
EVELYN CARTER: "Has the facility been placed under observation?"
INVESTIGATIVE TEAM LEADER: "Yes. The team has visual confirmation of his vehicle."
GENERAL MICHAEL HARRINGTON: "Then we need to proceed carefully. No one enters without the appropriate authorization."
EVELYN CARTER: "Agreed."
The general looked at the recovered report.
GENERAL MICHAEL HARRINGTON: "If Mitchell is there, he may be able to explain why his signature was used."
EVELYN CARTER: "Or he may be there to retrieve something."
The investigative team leader nodded.
INVESTIGATIVE TEAM LEADER: "We are checking the facility's access records now."
A few minutes later, the team received another update.
A security camera showed Colonel Mitchell entering the warehouse with a briefcase.
He had not left.
The surveillance team also identified another vehicle registered to Lawson Strategic Technologies.
Gregory Shaw was believed to be inside.
Evelyn examined the still image.
EVELYN CARTER: "They are all gathering in the same place."
GENERAL MICHAEL HARRINGTON: "It may be a coincidence."
EVELYN CARTER: "It may be. But given the records we've recovered, we should not ignore it."
The investigative team leader received authorization to coordinate with the appropriate legal authorities.
The next phase would focus on securing the facility and preserving any records connected to the contract.
Meanwhile, Evelyn returned to the main operations room.
She wanted to review the original laboratory report one more time before leaving.
A particular section caught her attention.
The final page contained a reference to a second testing location.
It was described as an independent facility where the equipment had supposedly undergone additional reliability trials.
But the address was incomplete.
Only a company name and a storage reference number were listed.
Evelyn pointed to it.
EVELYN CARTER: "James, what is this facility?"
James examined the entry.
JAMES PORTER: "The name is Meridian Technical Services."
Evelyn looked up.
EVELYN CARTER: "Is that connected to Meridian Storage and Logistics?"
James checked the company directory.
JAMES PORTER: "It appears to be a separate company, but both entities share a registered mailing address."
Daniel stepped closer.
DANIEL REEVES: "Who owns Meridian Technical Services?"
James searched the registration records.
JAMES PORTER: "The listed director is Edward Lawson."
The connection was complete enough to demand immediate attention.
The company associated with Richard Lawson's family had been listed as the independent testing facility.
The revised report claimed that the equipment had passed additional assessments at that location.
Yet Dr. Morris had confirmed that no legitimate follow-up testing had been conducted under her supervision.
EVELYN CARTER: "We need the original test equipment records."
GENERAL MICHAEL HARRINGTON: "And the delivery logs."
DANIEL REEVES: "I'll add both to the evidence request."
Evelyn closed the folder.
The investigation was no longer centered on whether Richard Lawson had behaved improperly at the ceremony.
It now involved the authenticity of a technical assessment, the possible misuse of a retired officer's signature, financial relationships between connected companies, and the attempted removal of original records.
The ceremony had revealed the person who was willing to use physical intimidation.
The documents were revealing the people who had helped him build a system of influence.
And the next discovery could determine how far that system reached.
The investigative team leader approached them again.
INVESTIGATIVE TEAM LEADER: "General, the legal authorization has been confirmed. We can secure the relevant records at Meridian Storage and Logistics."
GENERAL MICHAEL HARRINGTON: "Proceed."
INVESTIGATIVE TEAM LEADER: "The team is ready."
Evelyn picked up her folder.
EVELYN CARTER: "I'll accompany the team as the original review officer."
GENERAL MICHAEL HARRINGTON: "You may provide technical guidance, but the investigative unit will lead the operation."
EVELYN CARTER: "Understood."
GENERAL MICHAEL HARRINGTON: "And Colonel, keep your distance from Lawson if he is present."
Evelyn nodded.
EVELYN CARTER: "I will."
They left the regional office.
By the time the vehicles reached Meridian Storage and Logistics, the sun had begun to disappear behind the industrial buildings.
The facility stood at the end of a wide access road, surrounded by a high metal fence and security cameras.
Several trucks were parked near the loading bays.
A sign above the entrance displayed the company name in large blue letters.
The investigative team gathered outside the main gate.
A facility manager named Robert Ellis approached them.
ROBERT ELLIS: "Can I help you?"
INVESTIGATIVE TEAM LEADER: "We're conducting an authorized investigation involving records and equipment connected to a procurement review."
ROBERT ELLIS: "I haven't received any notice about that."
INVESTIGATIVE TEAM LEADER: "The relevant authorization is here."
He presented the documentation.
Robert read it.
His expression changed.
ROBERT ELLIS: "I need to speak with our legal department."
INVESTIGATIVE TEAM LEADER: "You may do so. In the meantime, no records or equipment are to be moved, altered, or destroyed."
ROBERT ELLIS: "I don't know anything about the matter you're describing."
EVELYN CARTER: "Then cooperating with the preservation process should not be difficult."
Robert looked at her.
Recognition appeared in his eyes.
ROBERT ELLIS: "You're Colonel Carter."
EVELYN CARTER: "Yes."
ROBERT ELLIS: "I heard about what happened at the ceremony."
EVELYN CARTER: "Then you understand why we are here."
Robert glanced toward the warehouse.
ROBERT ELLIS: "I manage the storage facility. I don't handle procurement decisions."
INVESTIGATIVE TEAM LEADER: "We are not asking you to explain the procurement decision. We need access to the records and locations identified in the authorization."
Robert reluctantly opened the gate.