He connected a forensic device.
The access records appeared.
There were multiple entries.
The names included Peter Dawson, Richard Lawson, Edward Mitchell, and Ryan Mitchell.
Alina stared at the final name.
Ryan had visited the warehouse.
The officer who had grabbed her and thrown her credentials away had entered the same facility where missing police evidence was being stored.
And the access history showed that he had been there yesterday.
Nathan continued examining the record.
NATHAN BROOKS: "There's another entry."
ALINA BROOKS: "Who?"
Nathan looked at the screen.
NATHAN BROOKS: "Chief Martin Hayes."
Alina said nothing.
The chief had claimed that he knew about temporary storage arrangements but denied knowing that evidence had been moved improperly.
Now his access record placed him inside the warehouse.
And the entry had occurred on the same night Ethan Miller had seen him carrying a black case.
Alina looked toward Edward.
ALINA BROOKS: "Open the room."
Edward shook his head.
EDWARD MITCHELL: "I don't have the access code."
ALINA BROOKS: "Then we will use the authorized procedure."
The team prepared to open the door.
The electronic lock was disabled under the approved process.
A moment later, the door released.
The room beyond was dark.
An investigator switched on the lights.
Inside were several metal cabinets, a long table, and rows of sealed plastic containers.
A computer sat on the table.
Beside it was a large black document case.
Alina recognized the case immediately.
It was similar to the one Peter Dawson had carried out of the police department.
She approached carefully.
The case was open.
Inside were folders, printed transfer records, and a collection of storage receipts.
The first folder was labeled:
EASTBRIDGE - ORIGINAL INVENTORY.
Alina opened it.
The pages contained the original evidence list.
Every missing item.
Every transfer.
Every destination.
And every name connected to the operation.
For the first time since the investigation began, she had the document that could connect the entire network.
But before she could examine it further, Nathan called from the computer.
NATHAN BROOKS: "Agent Brooks, you need to see this."
Alina approached.
The computer displayed an open file.
At the top was a heading.
FINAL TRANSFER - M17.
Below it was a list of items scheduled to be moved that evening.
There were eleven packages.
Some contained narcotics.
Others contained firearms.
One entry was described only as a sealed evidence archive.
The destination was not another warehouse.
It was a private transport facility outside the city.
And the final authorization carried the name of Thomas Vance.
Alina looked at the time.
The transfer was scheduled for 8:00 p.m.
It was still several hours away.
But someone had already prepared the documents.
She turned toward Nathan.
ALINA BROOKS: "We need to stop that transfer."
NATHAN BROOKS: "I'll notify the prosecutor."
ALINA BROOKS: "And we need to find out who is expected to collect the packages."
Nathan opened the next document.
A vehicle registration number appeared.
It belonged to a private transport company.
But the authorized driver was not an employee of that company.
It was a Northbridge police officer.
Alina read the name.
Then she looked at Nathan.
ALINA BROOKS: "Is this correct?"
Nathan checked the record.
NATHAN BROOKS: "Yes."
ALINA BROOKS: "Who is it?"
Nathan turned the screen toward her.
The name was Ryan Mitchell.
Alina stared at the document.
The same officer who had humiliated her in front of his colleagues was scheduled to collect the final shipment of missing evidence.
Now she understood why he had tried so hard to delay her inspection.
He had not simply been defending his authority.
He had been protecting a transfer that was supposed to take place that night.
But there was still one question she could not answer.
If Ryan was scheduled to move the evidence, who had instructed him?
And why had the chief's credentials, the deputy chief's account, and Thomas Vance's federal authorization all appeared in the same operation?
Alina closed the folder.
ALINA BROOKS: "Secure every document in this room."
NATHAN BROOKS: "What about the scheduled transfer?"
ALINA BROOKS: "We let them believe nothing has changed until we know exactly who is coming."
Nathan looked at her.
NATHAN BROOKS: "You want to observe the transfer?"
ALINA BROOKS: "I want to identify everyone involved before they realize we've found the original records."
She turned toward the federal agents.