The analyst had checked the central task-force database against the case numbers Claire had provided.
One of the records had been altered recently.
The entry concerned case NR-23904, a seizure recorded five months earlier.
The original federal database showed that the precinct had transferred 1.6 kilograms of suspected narcotics to a regional storage facility.
The current record showed 1.1 kilograms.
The difference was half a kilogram.
More importantly, the amendment had been made that morning.
Claire read the timestamp.
9:06 a.m.
One minute before she entered the precinct.
She looked at the screen again.
The amendment had been submitted using a local administrative account.
The account was registered to the evidence unit.
Claire called the analyst.
“Can you confirm the amendment history?”
“Yes. The original entry was created five months ago. The weight was changed this morning.”
“Is the previous value recoverable?”
“Yes. We have the original record.”
“Was there an explanation attached?”
“No.”
“Who submitted the change?”
“The account is listed under North River Evidence Administration.”
“Can you identify the device?”
“Not from this screen. We would need a separate technical request.”
Claire thanked the analyst and ended the call.
She looked toward the conference room.
Patricia was sitting at the computer.
Cole was nowhere in sight.
Claire returned to the table and asked Mercer to come in.
When he arrived, she showed him the amendment timestamp.
“Chief, this entry was changed at 9:06 this morning.”
Mercer leaned closer.
“What entry?”
“NR-23904. The recorded weight was reduced from 1.6 kilograms to 1.1 kilograms.”
Mercer stared at the screen.
“Who changed it?”
“The account is registered to the evidence unit. We have not yet identified the user or device.”
Mercer looked toward Patricia.
“Did you make this change?”
Patricia shook her head.
“No.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
Mercer turned back to Claire.
“Could this be a system error?”
“Possibly. But we need to establish whether the original record was changed manually, whether the amendment was authorized, and whether there is supporting documentation.”
Mercer rubbed his face.
“This is serious.”
“Yes.”
He looked at the timestamp again.
“Why would someone change an entry this morning?”
Claire did not answer.
She did not need to.
The timing was difficult to ignore.
Someone had altered a record shortly before an authorized federal inspection.
And the person who had done it might have known the inspection was coming.
12. The Chief's Orders
Mercer returned to his office and called Lieutenant Raymond Pike.
Pike answered after several rings.
“Chief?”
“Raymond, I need you at the precinct.”
“I'm off duty.”
“I know. I need you here.”
“What happened?”
“An evidence record was amended this morning. We have a federal inspector reviewing the ledger.”
There was a pause.
“Which inspector?”
“Claire Bennett.”
Another pause.
“She's there now?”
“Yes.”
“Did you tell her about the old system?”
Mercer frowned.
“What old system?”
Pike seemed to realize what he had said.
“Nothing. I mean the archived database.”
“Raymond, get here.”
“I'll be there in twenty minutes.”
Mercer ended the call.
He stood behind his desk, staring at the phone.
Then he called the IT supervisor and ordered an immediate preservation of all relevant system logs.
He instructed the supervisor not to delete, overwrite, or modify any records connected to the narcotics evidence system.
He also directed that access to the relevant archive be restricted pending review.
When he returned to the conference room, Claire was reviewing another document.
“Lieutenant Pike is coming in,” Mercer said.
“Thank you.”
“I've ordered the digital records preserved.”
“Please provide me with a copy of that instruction.”
Mercer nodded.
Then he hesitated.
“Agent Bennett, I need to ask you something.”
“Go ahead.”
“Do you believe someone here is stealing narcotics evidence?”
Claire placed the document on the table.
“I believe there are discrepancies that require investigation. I do not yet know whether they resulted from theft, improper handling, unauthorized amendments, or administrative failures.”
Mercer looked frustrated.
“You're careful with your words.”
“I have to be.”
“People are going to start asking questions.”
“They should receive accurate answers.”
Mercer sat down.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then he asked, “What happens if the evidence is missing?”
Claire looked directly at him.
“Then we determine when it went missing, who had access, whether the chain of custody was compromised, and whether anyone falsified records or obstructed the investigation.”
“And if it involves one of my officers?”
“Then the evidence will determine what happens next.”
Mercer looked toward the door.
“Cole has been a good officer for a long time.”
Claire did not respond.
She had heard similar statements before.
A person's years of service might be relevant to an employment decision.
They did not change the weight recorded on a laboratory receipt.
13. The Lieutenant Arrives
Lieutenant Raymond Pike arrived at 5:48 p.m.
He was a broad man in his early fifties, with close-cropped gray hair and a habit of speaking before he had fully entered a room.
He greeted Mercer first.
Then he turned toward Claire.
“Agent Bennett.”
“Lieutenant Pike.”
“I understand we're having some trouble with the ledger.”
“I'm reviewing several discrepancies.”
Pike glanced at the documents.
“Most of those are old records.”
“That does not make them irrelevant.”
“Of course not.”
Claire showed him the amendment history for NR-23904.
“Can you explain this change?”
Pike examined the screen.
“That's probably a correction.”
“What was incorrect about the original weight?”
“I'd have to check.”
“Who authorized the correction?”
“I'd have to check that too.”
“Was supporting documentation submitted?”
“I don't know.”
Claire wrote down his answers.
Pike watched her.
“Are you recording every word I say?”
“I'm documenting the inspection.”
He nodded.
“Right.”
Claire moved to the next document.
“This record indicates that case NR-24187 involved two containers. Only one is accounted for in the transfer history.”
Pike looked at the handwritten notation.
“That's an old shorthand.”
“Officer Cole said the same thing. Can you explain what it means?”
Pike studied it longer than Cole had.
Then he placed the paper down.
“It means the evidence was repackaged.”
“Where is the repackaging record?”
“Probably archived.”
“Where?”
“Old evidence storage.”
“Can you identify the archive location?”
Pike hesitated.
“Not without checking.”
Claire looked at him.
“Lieutenant, I would like the department to identify the location of every record associated with the cases under review. I also need the names of everyone who had access to the archive.”
Pike nodded.
“That's reasonable.”
“Thank you.”
He looked toward Mercer.
“Chief, can I speak with you?”
Mercer stood.
They stepped into the hallway.
Claire remained at the table.
She could not hear their conversation, but she could see their expressions.
Pike spoke quickly.
Mercer listened without interrupting.
At one point, Mercer shook his head.
Pike looked toward the conference room.
Then both men went into the chief's office.
Claire returned to her notes.