The regional oversight building was quieter than usual when Marcus arrived.
Several employees stood near the reception desk, speaking in hushed voices. A security officer watched Marcus approach, checked his credentials, and directed him toward the administrative conference room.
Deputy Director Harold Vance was already waiting.
He wore a dark suit and a silver tie, and his expression conveyed the polished displeasure of a man accustomed to controlling difficult situations.
Beside him sat a legal adviser.
Deputy Director Simone Carter occupied the opposite end of the table.
Marcus took the remaining seat.
Vance folded his hands.
"Investigator Reed, thank you for coming."
"You filed a complaint against me."
"I requested a review of your handling of sensitive evidence."
"Based on what?"
"Concerns regarding your conduct during an unauthorized operation in Westbridge County."
Marcus looked at Carter.
She remained expressionless.
Vance continued.
"You entered a private property without notifying the appropriate authorities, involved yourself in a confrontation with local officers, and removed documents from a storage facility connected to an unresolved investigation."
Marcus kept his voice steady.
"I did not enter the storage facility without authorization. The documents were recovered under a documented investigative process. The property owner provided access, and the evidence was photographed, inventoried, and secured by the forensic team."
Vance smiled faintly.
"That may be your interpretation."
"It's supported by the record."
"And the farmhouse?"
"An individual provided information about a possible witness. When we arrived, we discovered evidence that multiple people were attempting to interfere with the investigation."
"Did you have a warrant?"
"We had authorization to conduct a welfare and investigative inquiry, and the circumstances were documented. Any additional search will be conducted through the appropriate legal process."
Vance leaned back.
"You seem very confident."
"I rely on evidence."
"Evidence can be misleading."
"Especially when someone alters it."
The room became silent.
Vance's smile disappeared.
Carter finally spoke.
"Harold, if you have a specific allegation, present the supporting material. Otherwise, this meeting is unnecessary."
Vance turned toward her.
"I am trying to protect the integrity of this office."
"So am I," Carter replied. "That is why the allegations against Reed should be evaluated independently."
Vance tapped his fingers against the table.
"Fine. Let us discuss the storage unit."
He slid a document across the table.
It was a photograph of a page from Daniel Price's notebook.
Marcus recognized the handwriting immediately.
Vance pointed to the name at the bottom.
"Simone Carter."
Carter glanced at the page.
Her expression changed slightly.
Vance noticed.
"Would you care to explain why your name appears in a document associated with an investigator who died under suspicious circumstances?"
Carter remained composed.
"I can explain."
"Please do."
"Daniel Price contacted my office six years ago. He asked whether I could review allegations of evidence tampering in Westbridge. At the time, I was a senior investigator, not a deputy director. I agreed to examine the material, but before I received the complete file, I was told the inquiry had been suspended."
"By whom?" Marcus asked.
Carter looked at Vance.
"Harold Vance."
The deputy director's face tightened.
"That is a serious accusation."
"It's a factual statement. You signed the suspension order."
Vance shook his head.
"The investigation was terminated because the evidence was insufficient."
"Then why did you restrict the archive?"
"To protect confidential information."
"Why was Price's report never delivered to an independent prosecutor?"
"Because it was incomplete."
Carter leaned forward.
"Why did you tell me the case had been closed when the evidence system shows that additional documents were added three days later?"
Vance said nothing.
Marcus watched the exchange carefully.
Carter had not denied knowing Price.
She had not dismissed the notebook.
Instead, she had identified a specific decision made by Vance.
That was important.
But Marcus still needed to establish whether Carter had been a legitimate contact for Price or whether she had participated in the effort to bury his findings.
"Deputy Director Carter," he said, "did you ever meet Daniel Price in person?"
"Once."
"Where?"
"At a regional office in the neighboring county."
"Did he provide documents?"
"He provided a preliminary summary and asked for protection against interference."
"Did you offer him protection?"
"I told him I would seek authorization for an independent review."
"Did you obtain that authorization?"
"No. Vance suspended the process before I could proceed."
Vance interrupted.
"This is becoming an attempt to turn a routine administrative decision into a conspiracy."
Marcus looked at him.
"Then explain why your credentials were used to access the Price archive after the preservation order was issued."
Vance's expression hardened.
"I did not access that archive."
"The system records show that an account under your authority initiated a review."
"An administrative account can be used by multiple employees."
"Who had access?"
Vance looked toward the legal adviser.
The adviser leaned forward.
"Investigator Reed, we should be careful about drawing conclusions from incomplete system records."
Marcus nodded.
"Agreed. That's why I'm requesting an independent audit of the credentials, access logs, and authorization history."
Vance rose from his chair.
"This office will not be dictated to by an investigator who has spent less than a week in Westbridge."
Marcus remained seated.
"Then perhaps you should welcome an independent review. If the records support your explanation, the matter will be resolved."
Vance stared at him.
For a moment, Marcus thought the deputy director might lose control of his temper.
Instead, Vance adjusted his jacket.
"Your access to regional administrative systems is suspended pending review."
Carter immediately objected.
"That is not justified."
"It is a precaution."
"Without a substantiated finding?"
"I am exercising my authority."
Marcus stood.
"Then I will continue through channels outside your control."
Vance's eyes narrowed.
"You will do no such thing without authorization."
Marcus closed his badge wallet.
"Watch me."
He left the conference room with Carter following several steps behind.
Once they reached a quiet corridor, she spoke.
"Reed, you need to understand what you're dealing with."
"I understand that someone is trying to stop the investigation."
"Vance has spent decades building relationships throughout the region. If you challenge him directly, he'll make the case about your conduct instead of the evidence."
"He's already doing that."
"Then we need to be smarter."
Marcus studied her.
"Why didn't you tell me you knew Price?"
Carter's expression softened.
"Because I didn't know his name was in the storage unit. I remembered the preliminary inquiry, but I never received his full file. When the case was suspended, I was ordered not to pursue it."
"Why did you accept that order?"
The question hurt her.
"Because I was younger, because I believed the process would eventually correct itself, and because I didn't understand how much evidence had already disappeared."
Marcus waited.
Carter continued.
"I have regretted that decision for six years."
He believed she was telling the truth, but belief was not proof.
"Then help me correct it."
She nodded.
"I will."
Marcus handed her a copy of the photograph from Price's notebook.
"Can you identify the woman in this picture?"
Carter studied it.
Then her face changed.
"Yes."
"Who is she?"
"Laura Bennett. She worked as an accountant for Meridian Protective Services."
"Do you know where she is now?"
Carter hesitated.
"She entered witness protection after the Price investigation collapsed."
Marcus felt a surge of hope.
"Then she may possess the original recording."
"Possibly. But her location is confidential."
"I need to contact her through the proper channel."
Carter nodded.
"I'll initiate a protected request."
Marcus looked toward the conference room.
Vance had already disappeared inside.
The deputy director was not merely defending his old decisions.
He was trying to control the investigation before the evidence could be authenticated independently.
And now Marcus understood why the anonymous warning had referred to a gatekeeper.
Someone had used administrative authority to decide which evidence investigators could see, which complaints could be pursued, and which cases would quietly disappear.
The next step was clear.
They needed Laura Bennett.
Because if she possessed the original recording, she might be able to prove what Daniel Price had discovered—and who had ordered the investigation to stop.