“You look terrible,” Olivia said.
“I've been told that before.”
“Did you sleep?”
“Enough to remember where I put my notes.”
Olivia placed one coffee in front of her.
“Then let's start with what we actually know.”
Claire opened her laptop.
On the screen was a timeline of the records discovered at North River.
The first discrepancy concerned narcotics case NR-24187. The second involved NR-23904. Several other cases showed similar inconsistencies between the local property ledger and the federal seizure records.
The archived database contained a transfer entry to Meridian Logistics and Storage.
The initials R.P. appeared beside the transaction.
And somewhere in the department’s records was an old email concerning Robert Hayes, the previous federal inspector who had been reassigned before completing his review.
Olivia studied the timeline.
“There's a pattern,” she said.
“Possibly.”
“You don't sound convinced.”
“Because a pattern is not proof of a coordinated scheme. We have discrepancies, missing records, and an unexplained transfer destination. We still need to establish who authorized each action, who physically handled the property, and whether the missing documentation reflects misconduct or a badly maintained system.”
Olivia nodded.
“Fair enough. So what's first?”
“Preservation.”
Claire opened a draft notice.
She wanted the department to preserve all relevant records, including original evidence ledgers, amendments, access logs, digital transfer histories, surveillance footage, emails, internal messages, property-room records, and any documents concerning temporary storage.
The notice would identify the relevant period and systems without making accusations against specific employees.
It would also require the department to suspend routine deletion schedules for potentially relevant material.
Olivia read the draft.
“Should we include the basement lockbox?”
“Yes. We need to preserve its access history and the surrounding surveillance. But nobody touches it until we have the appropriate authority.”
“And Meridian?”
“We preserve what we have first. Then we establish the legal basis for obtaining the warehouse records.”
Olivia leaned back.
“Someone could already be moving things.”
“That's why we need to act quickly. Not recklessly.”
At 8:05, Claire sent the preservation notice through the appropriate federal channel.
A copy went to Chief Warren Mercer.
Another went to the department’s legal representative.
A separate request was sent to the federal digital evidence team to preserve and authenticate the archived database snapshot.
Claire did not send the anonymous photograph to the police department.
It had not yet been authenticated, and she did not want to reveal the full extent of the information available to the investigation.
At 8:21, Martin Shaw called.
“Claire, I read your preliminary report.”
“Any concerns?”
“Several. But not about your decision to separate the conduct incident from the evidence review.”
“Good.”
“I want to discuss the next steps. We have an inspector whose credentials were taken by a police officer during an authorized inspection. We also have a possible chain-of-custody problem involving controlled substances. Both are serious.”
“I agree.”
“Do we have confirmation that Meridian received narcotics?”
“Not yet. We have a database entry showing a transfer destination, but no verified receipt.”
“And the initials?”
“R.P. They appear in the record. We have not established whose initials they are.”
“Good. Keep that distinction in every report.”
Claire looked at the timeline.
“There's another issue. The former inspector, Robert Hayes.”
“I saw his name.”
“Patricia Sloan says she has an email from Lieutenant Pike concerning the closeout of his review.”
“Has she provided it?”
“Not yet. She says she hasn't opened the attachment.”
“Then don't ask her to forward it through an ordinary email account. We'll arrange a proper collection and preserve the original.”
Claire agreed.
Martin paused.
“One more thing. Chief Mercer has requested a meeting.”
“When?”
“Today. He says he wants to cooperate.”
Claire closed the laptop.
“Then we'll meet him.”
At 9:40, Claire and Olivia returned to North River Police Division.
The atmosphere was different from the previous day.
Officers who had barely acknowledged Claire during her first visit now watched her as she crossed the lobby. A few looked away when she made eye contact.
The reception officer stood immediately.
“Agent Bennett.”
“Good morning.”
“Chief Mercer is expecting you.”
Claire signed the visitor log and waited while the officer called upstairs.
She noticed something missing.
The trash bin beside the reception desk had been replaced.
It was a small detail, but she remembered exactly where her credential wallet had landed the day before.
She did not comment.
Chief Mercer met them outside his office.
“Agent Bennett. Agent Grant. Thank you for coming.”
His voice was controlled, but his expression suggested he had not slept much either.
“Chief,” Claire replied.
Mercer closed his office door.
“I want to apologize again for what happened yesterday.”
“I've documented the incident.”
“I understand.”
“Has Officer Cole been instructed not to interfere with this inspection?”
Mercer hesitated.
“He has been removed from direct contact with your team pending an internal review.”
“Has he been instructed to preserve all records and devices relevant to the inspection?”
“Yes.”
“Including his work phone, department computer activity, evidence-room access records, and body-worn camera footage?”
Mercer looked at his legal adviser, who was seated near the window.
“Yes,” he answered. “The preservation notice covers those materials.”
Claire took out her notebook.
“Then I'd like to discuss the records we identified.”
Mercer sat down.
“I've reviewed the preliminary list. I understand there are concerns about several narcotics cases.”
“More than concerns. There are discrepancies that require explanation.”
“Some of those records are old.”
“That does not make them irrelevant.”
“No, of course not.”
Claire placed a printed copy of the archived transfer entry on the desk.
“Can you explain why a database record lists Meridian Logistics and Storage as a destination for narcotics property?”