Marcus felt the pieces beginning to fit together.
"Where is Samuel Grant now?"
Iris shook her head.
"I don't know. He disappeared after submitting the statement."
"Have you tried to locate him?"
"Daniel Price tried. We found an old address, but the building had been demolished."
Marcus looked toward the filing cabinet.
"Do you have anything else?"
Iris removed a small notebook.
"This contains the names of people who handled the files. Not all of them were involved in the wrongdoing. Some may have been unaware of what was happening."
Marcus opened the notebook.
There were dozens of entries.
Dates.
Initials.
Case references.
Departmental extensions.
And one name appeared repeatedly beside several of the most serious cases.
Graham Voss.
Marcus turned another page.
A different name appeared at the bottom.
Harold Bennett.
Beside it was a handwritten note:
FINAL APPROVAL REQUIRED.
Marcus looked at Iris.
"What does that mean?"
"Some of the reports could not be changed without approval from the regional office."
"Who told you that?"
"Daniel Price found the approval records."
Marcus looked at the notebook.
"Then we need Daniel Price."
Iris nodded.
"He has the remaining documents."
"Do you know where he is?"
"Not exactly. But he said he had a meeting with someone who could help him."
"Who?"
"An attorney named Rebecca Shaw."
Marcus recognized the name.
Rebecca Shaw was a former prosecutor who had become a legal investigator specializing in wrongful convictions.
She had worked on several cases involving disputed evidence and procedural misconduct.
Marcus took out his phone.
"Do you have her contact information?"
Iris handed him a small piece of paper.
The number was written in blue ink.
Marcus called.
The phone rang several times.
Then a woman answered.
"Rebecca Shaw."
"My name is Marcus Reed. I'm the new commander at Riverton Police Department."
There was a pause.
"Commander Reed?"
"Yes."
"How did you get this number?"
"Iris Whitcomb gave it to me."
The woman's voice changed.
"Is Iris with you?"
"Yes."
"Is she safe?"
"For now."
Rebecca took a breath.
"Then listen carefully. Do not bring her to the headquarters. Do not send her through the internal affairs office."
"That won't happen."
"Have you seen the records?"
"Some of them."
"Then you need to understand that this is much bigger than one deputy chief."
Marcus looked toward Iris.
"I've been told that."
Rebecca lowered her voice.
"Daniel Price has the original evidence transfer ledger. It contains the information that connects the forty-nine cases."
"Where is he?"
"I don't know. He was supposed to meet me this afternoon, but he never arrived."
Marcus's expression tightened.
"Have you heard from him?"
"No."
"Was he threatened?"
"I believe so."
Marcus looked at the documents spread across the table.
"Rebecca, I need to see that ledger."
"You won't get it from me."
"Why?"
"Because I don't have it. Daniel was supposed to bring it."
"Then we need to find him."
Rebecca hesitated.
"Commander, there is something you should know about your own file."
Marcus became still.
"What?"
"Your signature appears on the final Eastbridge report."
"I know."
"But your signature was also used on a second document."
"What document?"
"A certification stating that all witness statements and evidence records had been reviewed before the case was submitted."
Marcus frowned.
"I signed the final report. I don't remember signing a separate certification."
"That's because the document was added afterward."
Marcus looked at the old statement in front of him.
"Are you saying someone forged my signature?"
"I can't confirm that until I examine the original."
Marcus's jaw tightened.
"Where is it?"
"Daniel has a copy. The original was supposed to be in the archive."
Iris looked up.
Rebecca continued.
"If that signature was forged, it means someone used your authority to certify a case file you never fully reviewed."
Marcus closed his eyes briefly.
He understood the implications.
His name could have been used to justify the removal of evidence.
His professional reputation could have been used to protect a criminal operation.
And the person who had done it had access to the highest levels of the department.
"Rebecca, I need you to help us establish the facts."
"I will. But I need to know that Iris will be protected."
"She will."
"And Daniel?"
"We'll find him."
Rebecca was silent for a moment.
Then she spoke.
"There's one more thing. I received an envelope this morning."
"What was inside?"
"A photograph."
Marcus waited.
"It showed the headquarters entrance. You were standing beside the stone columns. The picture had been taken shortly before the confrontation."
Marcus looked toward Iris.
She was watching him.
Rebecca continued.
"On the back, someone had written: THE NEW COMMANDER SHOULD STOP ASKING QUESTIONS."
Marcus slowly lowered the phone.
Someone had been watching him.
Someone had taken photographs before he arrived.
Someone had sent those photographs to people connected to the investigation.
He looked at the security footage in his mind.
Briggs receiving the paper.
Voss taking the envelope.
The photograph of Marcus.
The threat was no longer indirect.
They knew exactly who he was.
And they wanted him to stop.
Marcus returned his attention to the phone.