Alina approached.
The folder contained several documents.
Each one was dated.
Each one carried a signature.
And each one authorized a temporary transfer of evidence to an external storage facility.
But the signatures were not all from the same person.
Some carried Lawson's name.
Others had been signed by the chief's administrative assistant.
One document had been approved by a regional compliance officer.
Alina looked at the final page.
It contained a handwritten note.
"APPROVED AFTER CONSULTATION WITH FEDERAL COORDINATOR."
She looked up.
ALINA BROOKS: "Who is the federal coordinator?"
Hayes hesitated.
CHIEF MARTIN HAYES: "Thomas Vance."
Alina recognized the name.
Thomas Vance was a senior regional liaison responsible for coordinating federal reviews involving several local departments.
He had appeared on previous compliance correspondence.
But his name had not been connected to the missing evidence reports.
At least, not until now.
ALINA BROOKS: "Did you speak with him personally?"
CHIEF MARTIN HAYES: "Several times."
ALINA BROOKS: "About the storage arrangements?"
CHIEF MARTIN HAYES: "Yes."
ALINA BROOKS: "What did he tell you?"
CHIEF MARTIN HAYES: "He said the temporary arrangements were acceptable while the regional warehouse was undergoing maintenance."
Alina looked at the dates.
The warehouse maintenance period had ended almost a year earlier.
But several evidence transfers had continued long after that.
ALINA BROOKS: "Did you receive a written extension?"
CHIEF MARTIN HAYES: "No."
ALINA BROOKS: "Then why did the transfers continue?"
Hayes looked away.
CHIEF MARTIN HAYES: "Lawson told me the issue had been resolved."
ALINA BROOKS: "And you accepted that without verifying the records?"
Hayes did not answer.
Alina placed the folder inside an evidence sleeve.
ALINA BROOKS: "I need you to provide a formal statement."
CHIEF MARTIN HAYES: "I will speak with my attorney first."
ALINA BROOKS: "That's fine."
She turned toward the door.
But before she left, Hayes spoke again.
CHIEF MARTIN HAYES: "There is one more thing."
Alina stopped.
CHIEF MARTIN HAYES: "The original transfer list wasn't kept in the evidence office."
ALINA BROOKS: "Where was it kept?"
CHIEF MARTIN HAYES: "Deputy Chief Lawson maintained a separate copy."
ALINA BROOKS: "Where?"
Hayes took a breath.
CHIEF MARTIN HAYES: "At a private storage property outside the city."
ALINA BROOKS: "Do you know the address?"
CHIEF MARTIN HAYES: "No. But I know the company name."
Alina waited.
CHIEF MARTIN HAYES: "Meridian Storage and Logistics."
The name was unfamiliar.
But Nathan had already found a connection between Peter Dawson's vehicle and a private holding company.
Alina wrote it down.
ALINA BROOKS: "Thank you, Chief."
She left the office.
Outside, Nathan was waiting.
NATHAN BROOKS: "We found the vehicle."
ALINA BROOKS: "Peter's?"
NATHAN BROOKS: "Yes. The sedan was located at a service station approximately six miles from here."
ALINA BROOKS: "Was Dawson inside?"
NATHAN BROOKS: "No. The vehicle was abandoned."
ALINA BROOKS: "What about the case?"
NATHAN BROOKS: "It wasn't there."
Alina considered the information.
ALINA BROOKS: "Any witnesses?"
NATHAN BROOKS: "A security camera shows him getting into another vehicle. A dark SUV."
ALINA BROOKS: "Can we identify it?"
NATHAN BROOKS: "The plate is partially visible. We're checking nearby cameras."
Alina handed Nathan the folder from the chief.
NATHAN BROOKS: "What's this?"
ALINA BROOKS: "Temporary storage approvals. The chief says Deputy Chief Lawson maintained a separate copy of the original transfer list at a property called Meridian Storage and Logistics."
Nathan examined the documents.
NATHAN BROOKS: "That's interesting."
ALINA BROOKS: "Why?"
NATHAN BROOKS: "The company connected to Peter's abandoned vehicle has the same registered mailing address as Meridian Storage."
Alina stopped walking.
ALINA BROOKS: "You're certain?"
NATHAN BROOKS: "The corporate records show the same address."
ALINA BROOKS: "Who owns the company?"
NATHAN BROOKS: "A man named Edward Mitchell."
Alina glanced at him.
ALINA BROOKS: "Any relation to Ryan Mitchell?"
Nathan opened another record.
NATHAN BROOKS: "They're brothers."
For several seconds, Alina said nothing.
The officer who had thrown her federal credentials into the trash was connected to the private company that appeared to be involved in storing missing evidence.
The connection was becoming difficult to dismiss.
NATHAN BROOKS: "There's more."
ALINA BROOKS: "Go ahead."
NATHAN BROOKS: "Edward Mitchell received payments from a company connected to the department's evidence transfer contracts."
ALINA BROOKS: "How much?"
NATHAN BROOKS: "Approximately $340,000 over eighteen months."
Alina looked back toward the operations floor.
Ryan was still there.
He was standing near his desk, speaking quietly with another officer.