"Which do you think happened here?"
"I don't know yet."
She stood.
"But I intend to find out."
That evening, after leaving the precinct, Simone returned to her hotel.
She removed her burgundy jacket and hung it carefully in the closet.
Then she sat at the desk and opened her laptop.
A secure message from Elena Morris was waiting.
The subject line read:
URGENT β FORMER EVIDENCE TECHNICIAN CONTACT
Simone opened it.
Daniel Price had agreed to speak with the Department of Justice.
He was willing to provide a statement concerning his resignation and the alleged pressure to modify evidence records.
However, he had included an important condition.
He wanted to meet outside Los Angeles.
He was afraid someone within the department might recognize him.
Simone read the message twice.
Then she called Elena.
"Did he explain why he's afraid?"
"Not in detail."
"Does he have evidence?"
"He says he kept copies of several internal communications."
"Where?"
"He hasn't told us yet."
"Can you arrange a secure meeting?"
"Yes."
"Tomorrow?"
"He's asking for two days."
Simone looked at the clock.
"All right. Give him two days."
Elena paused.
"Simone, there's another issue."
"What?"
"Someone accessed the department's internal case database this afternoon using an account assigned to Captain Lawson."
Simone sat straighter.
"When?"
"At 4:52 p.m."
"Was it Lawson?"
"We can't establish that yet."
"What records were accessed?"
"The Walker case, the Bennett complaint, and several personnel files."
Simone closed her laptop.
"Did the access come from his office?"
"Apparently."
"Preserve everything. I want the server logs, workstation information, and the full access history."
"Understood."
"Also, nobody should contact Lawson about this yet."
Elena paused.
"Do you think he knows?"
"I think someone is becoming nervous."
She ended the call.
For several minutes, Simone sat without moving.
She had expected resistance.
She had expected some officers to become defensive.
She had even expected an attempt to discredit the investigation.
But accessing sensitive files after being instructed not to interfere was a different matter.
The question was no longer simply who had altered the evidence records.
It was who was trying to find out what the federal team already knew.
And why.
The following morning, Officer Keller arrived at the precinct earlier than usual.
He was no longer assigned to active investigative duties, but he had been instructed to report for an administrative meeting.
He entered through the side entrance.
Several officers greeted him.
He responded with brief nods.
At his locker, he found an envelope containing instructions regarding his temporary reassignment.
He read the first page.
Then the second.
His access to the case-management system had been suspended.
His firearm remained in departmental custody.
His badge had been temporarily surrendered.
He closed the envelope.
A few minutes later, Detective Marcus Hill approached.
"Morning."
Keller didn't answer.
Hill stopped beside him.
"Have you heard anything?"
"About what?"
"The investigation."
Keller slammed his locker shut.
"No."
"Okay."
"Why?"
"Just asking."
Keller turned.
"Marcus, if you know something, say it."
Hill looked uncomfortable.
"I heard the federal team interviewed Rachel Bennett yesterday."
Keller's expression changed.
"Who?"
"Rachel Bennett. Her brother was arrested last year."
Keller stared at him.
"How do you know that?"
"People are talking."
"About what?"
"That her complaint was closed without a proper withdrawal."
Keller looked away.
He remembered the incident.
He remembered the arrest.
He remembered the woman on the balcony.
He also remembered a telephone conversation several weeks later.
A man from the records division had told him the complaint was no longer active.
Keller had not questioned it.
He had assumed the matter was finished.
"Who told you that?" he asked.
Hill shook his head.
"I don't know."
Keller took a step closer.
"Listen. You need to stop repeating things you don't understand."
Hill's expression hardened.
"I'm not repeating anything. I'm telling you what I heard."
"Then keep it to yourself."
Hill looked at him for several seconds.
"You know, Daniel, there was a time when I thought you were one of the best officers in this division."
Keller said nothing.
"But lately, I don't know what happened to you."
Keller laughed.
"You don't know me."
"Maybe not."
Hill walked away.
Keller stood alone.
He looked at the empty space where his badge normally hung.
For the first time in eleven years, he entered the precinct without wearing the symbol of his authority.
He hated the feeling.
But he hated something else even more.
The possibility that the investigation might uncover things he had never thought anyone would examine.
At 9:00 a.m., Simone arrived with two members of her investigative team.
They were carrying document boxes and secured equipment.
Chief Whitmore met them at the entrance.
"Good morning."
"Good morning, Chief."
"I've arranged access to the records room."
"Thank you."
Whitmore walked beside her.
"Captain Lawson is here."
"Has he been informed of the interview?"
"Yes. He requested legal representation."
"That's his right."
"He's waiting in conference room two."
Simone nodded.
Before entering the room, she checked the list of documents she wanted preserved.
The Walker evidence records.
The Bennett complaint file.
All related internal communications.
The administrative access history.
And the original body-camera device logs.
She handed a copy to Elena, who had arrived from Washington that morning.
"Let's make sure every item is documented."
Elena nodded.
They entered the conference room.
Captain Lawson was seated at the far end of the table with an attorney.
He stood briefly.
"Investigator."
"Captain."
Simone took a seat.
The formal interview began with the usual identification questions.
Lawson confirmed his position, responsibilities, and length of service.
His attorney listened carefully.
Simone then moved to the records.
"Captain, were you aware that Officer Keller's name appeared in multiple evidence-access logs?"
Lawson looked at his attorney.
"Can you clarify the time period?"
"During the previous twelve months."
"I was aware that officers accessed case files as part of their duties."
"Did you review Keller's access history?"
"Not individually."
"Did you instruct Deputy Records Administrator Mercer to make changes to any evidence records?"
"No."
"Did you instruct Lieutenant Harris to approve changes to the Walker evidence transfer history?"
Lawson paused.
"I don't recall."
Simone placed a copy of the email on the table.
"Is this your account?"
"It is an account assigned to my office."
"Was it used by you?"
"Yes, and occasionally by authorized administrative personnel."
"Who had access?"
"My assistant, Lieutenant Harris, and Mr. Mercer."
"Was the account password shared?"
"Not officially."
"Was it shared in practice?"