The first document she saw was a transfer certificate.
It carried the identification number of one of the missing packages.
The certificate claimed that the package had been delivered to the regional evidence warehouse.
But the signature at the bottom did not match the signature on the warehouse's official receiving records.
Alina placed the document inside an evidence sleeve.
Then she examined the next page.
It was a destruction certificate.
The item had supposedly been destroyed six months earlier.
But the certificate had been created only three weeks ago.
The date had been altered.
She turned another page.
This one contained a list of payments.
The amounts were written beside evidence identification numbers.
Some were small.
Others were several thousand dollars.
At the bottom of the page was a handwritten note:
"FINAL CLEARANCE AFTER REVIEW."
Alina looked toward Nathan.
ALINA BROOKS: "Photograph this entire folder."
Nathan approached.
NATHAN BROOKS: "What did you find?"
ALINA BROOKS: "A payment list linked to the missing evidence numbers."
Nathan examined the document.
NATHAN BROOKS: "These look like transaction references."
ALINA BROOKS: "They may be. We need to trace every one."
Nathan photographed the page.
Alina continued searching.
Inside the bottom drawer, she found a small envelope.
It had no return address.
The front carried only the words:
"FOR THE PERSON WHO FINALLY ASKS."
Alina opened it carefully.
Inside was a folded handwritten statement.
The writing was uneven, as if the author had been in a hurry.
It read:
"The evidence was not destroyed. It was moved. The official records were changed afterward. Some packages were sold. Others were kept because they were useful to people outside the department. Do not trust the transfer reports. Do not trust the people who signed them. The original list is somewhere else."
At the bottom was a name.
Ethan Miller.
Alina looked toward the doorway.
ALINA BROOKS: "Where is Officer Miller?"
The federal agent checked the operations-floor list.
FEDERAL AGENT: "He was last seen near the dispatch station."
ALINA BROOKS: "Bring him here. I want to speak with him privately."
A few minutes later, Ethan entered the office.
He looked nervous.
His eyes moved toward the envelope on the desk.
Then he looked at Alina.
ETHAN MILLER: "You found it."
ALINA BROOKS: "You wrote this?"
Ethan nodded.
ETHAN MILLER: "Yes."
ALINA BROOKS: "Why didn't you report it through the official channel?"
Ethan lowered his eyes.
ETHAN MILLER: "Because the official channel wasn't safe."
ALINA BROOKS: "Explain."
Ethan looked toward the door.
The federal agent closed it.
ETHAN MILLER: "I started noticing things about eight months ago. Packages would appear in the system, then disappear. Sometimes the transfer records would be changed after the packages had supposedly left the building."
ALINA BROOKS: "Did you witness any physical transfers?"
ETHAN MILLER: "Yes."
ALINA BROOKS: "Who was involved?"
Ethan hesitated.
ETHAN MILLER: "Officer Mitchell."
Alina remained silent.
ETHAN MILLER: "He used to come into the evidence corridor late at night. Sometimes he was with Mr. Dawson. Sometimes Deputy Chief Lawson was there."
ALINA BROOKS: "What did they do?"
ETHAN MILLER: "They moved sealed containers into a vehicle that wasn't registered to the department."
ALINA BROOKS: "Did you see what was inside?"
ETHAN MILLER: "No. The containers were sealed."
ALINA BROOKS: "Did you report it?"
ETHAN MILLER: "I tried."
ALINA BROOKS: "To whom?"
ETHAN MILLER: "Captain Whitaker."
Alina looked at the young officer.
ALINA BROOKS: "What happened?"
Ethan took a breath.
ETHAN MILLER: "He told me I was misunderstanding the procedures. He said the transfers had been approved by command and that I should stop asking questions."
ALINA BROOKS: "Did he tell you who approved them?"
ETHAN MILLER: "He said the chief's office."
Alina wrote something in her notebook.
ALINA BROOKS: "Did you ever speak directly to Chief Hayes?"
ETHAN MILLER: "No."
ALINA BROOKS: "Did you see him near the evidence room?"
Ethan hesitated.
Then he nodded.
ETHAN MILLER: "Once."
ALINA BROOKS: "When?"
ETHAN MILLER: "About four months ago. It was late. I was finishing a report when I saw him walk into the evidence administration office with Deputy Chief Lawson."
ALINA BROOKS: "Did they leave together?"
ETHAN MILLER: "Yes."
ALINA BROOKS: "Did they carry anything?"
ETHAN MILLER: "Lawson had a folder. The chief was carrying a small black case."
Alina looked at him carefully.
ALINA BROOKS: "Are you certain?"
ETHAN MILLER: "Yes."
ALINA BROOKS: "Why didn't you include that in your written statement?"