The team entered.
Inside, the warehouse was divided into several sections. Large shelves held equipment containers, boxed components, and industrial supplies.
A forklift moved slowly through one aisle.
Two employees stood near a loading bay, speaking quietly.
Evelyn followed the investigative team leader toward the administrative office.
The first room contained filing cabinets, computer terminals, and several delivery logs.
The second room was locked.
Robert produced a key.
ROBERT ELLIS: "This is the records room."
The door opened.
Inside were rows of archive boxes and several secure cabinets.
The investigative officers began documenting the room.
Evelyn examined the labels.
Most were ordinary storage references.
Then she saw a shelf marked with the same reference number from the original laboratory report.
EVELYN CARTER: "That section."
An investigator photographed the label before opening the cabinet.
Inside were three boxes.
The first contained routine shipping documents.
The second held invoices and supplier correspondence.
The third contained a folder labeled:
LAWSON STRATEGIC TECHNOLOGIES β TECHNICAL VALIDATION.
Evelyn stepped closer.
EVELYN CARTER: "This is the file we're looking for."
The investigator photographed the folder before removing it.
INVESTIGATOR: "We'll document the contents here."
They opened it carefully.
The first document was a delivery receipt.
The second was an internal checklist.
The third was a series of photographs showing the equipment installed inside a testing room.
But the photographs did not show any identifiable testing instruments.
There were no calibration records.
No test logs.
No independent engineer's signature.
And no evidence that the required assessment had taken place.
Evelyn turned to the final page.
It contained a certificate stating that the equipment had successfully completed the reliability trials.
The certificate was signed by Thomas Reed.
EVELYN CARTER: "This is the document Dr. Morris rejected."
Daniel examined it.
DANIEL REEVES: "The date is two days after she said she refused to approve the draft."
EVELYN CARTER: "Which means the certificate was issued after the lead engineer had already rejected the results."
The investigator placed the document into an evidence sleeve.
INVESTIGATOR: "We'll preserve the entire folder."
At that moment, a noise came from the far end of the warehouse.
A metal door closed.
The facility manager turned.
ROBERT ELLIS: "That must be one of the loading staff."
The investigative team leader looked toward the corridor.
INVESTIGATIVE TEAM LEADER: "Who else is in the building?"
ROBERT ELLIS: "Several employees. The warehouse is still operating."
INVESTIGATIVE TEAM LEADER: "Please account for everyone."
Robert nodded and left with an officer.
Evelyn remained near the records cabinet.
She noticed another folder underneath the technical validation file.
It was thinner and had no visible label.
She asked the investigator to document it before opening it.
Inside were printed email messages.
One contained a short instruction:
"Once the revised report is accepted, transfer the original testing materials to the secondary site. No further review should be necessary."
The message was signed with the initials S.P.
Samuel Price.
Evelyn read it again.
Beneath the message was a handwritten note:
"Mitchell will confirm the technical approval. Reed will handle certification. Shaw will coordinate delivery."
Daniel stared at the page.
DANIEL REEVES: "This is a direct reference to the people we've identified."
EVELYN CARTER: "Yes."
DANIEL REEVES: "And it explains why they were all connected to the same file."
Evelyn turned the page.
Another message mentioned an outstanding payment to Northbridge Advisory Group.
A third referred to the final transfer of the equipment.
The date was the following morning.
Evelyn looked at the investigative team leader.
EVELYN CARTER: "We need to establish whether the equipment has already been moved."
INVESTIGATIVE TEAM LEADER: "I'll have the warehouse inventory checked."
The team began examining the delivery records.
The original inventory listed twelve equipment containers.
The current storage record listed only eight.
Four containers were missing.
The delivery history showed that they had been transferred to another location two days earlier.
EVELYN CARTER: "Where were they sent?"
Robert returned with the inventory supervisor.
INVENTORY SUPERVISOR: "The transfer was approved under a special storage request."
EVELYN CARTER: "Who authorized it?"
The supervisor looked at the document.
INVENTORY SUPERVISOR: "Gregory Shaw."
DANIEL REEVES: "Where were the containers delivered?"
The supervisor checked the address.
INVENTORY SUPERVISOR: "A facility outside the city. The reference is listed as Northbridge Technical Annex."
Evelyn looked at the general.
GENERAL MICHAEL HARRINGTON: "Another company connected to Northbridge Advisory Group?"
JAMES PORTER: "That is possible. The company names appear in the same registration records."
The investigative team leader contacted the operations unit.
INVESTIGATIVE TEAM LEADER: "We have four missing containers transferred to a secondary site. I need the address verified and the location secured under the existing investigation."
He listened.
INVESTIGATIVE TEAM LEADER: "Understood."
He ended the call.
INVESTIGATIVE TEAM LEADER: "The team is checking the address now."
A few minutes later, a second investigator approached.
INVESTIGATOR: "We've located Colonel Mitchell."
Evelyn turned.
EVELYN CARTER: "Where?"
INVESTIGATOR: "In the loading area. He was attempting to leave through the service entrance."
The team leader moved immediately.
INVESTIGATIVE TEAM LEADER: "Bring him to the administrative office. Do not let him leave before the interview arrangements are confirmed."
Two officers escorted a man into the room.
He was in his late sixties, with silver hair and a neatly pressed civilian jacket.
Evelyn recognized him from the photograph attached to the revised assessment.
Colonel Andrew Mitchell.
He looked around the room.
Then his eyes stopped on the folder in Evelyn's hand.
ANDREW MITCHELL: "I was told this was a routine storage inspection."
INVESTIGATIVE TEAM LEADER: "It is not."
ANDREW MITCHELL: "I have no idea what you're talking about."
EVELYN CARTER: "Colonel Mitchell, your name appears on a revised technical assessment submitted last week."
Mitchell looked at her.
ANDREW MITCHELL: "I haven't been involved in military procurement since my retirement."