Daniel Price's vehicle had been located near an abandoned warehouse in the northern industrial district.
Marcus looked at the address.
Then he looked toward the investigators.
"I need to go to this location."
One of them shook his head.
"Commander, I recommend that you allow our team to handle the contact."
"I agree. I'm not going there alone."
He turned toward Iris.
"Do you recognize this address?"
She looked at the screen.
Then her face changed.
"That's the old evidence storage warehouse."
Marcus looked at her.
"What?"
"Daniel used to work there before the department moved the records to the new facility."
"Is it still operational?"
"No. It was closed after the roof was damaged."
Marcus turned toward the investigators.
"Then we need to get there immediately."
The lead investigator contacted his team.
Two vehicles were prepared.
Iris was escorted to a secure location under the supervision of an independent investigator.
Marcus traveled with the team toward the northern industrial district.
The journey took almost twenty minutes.
The city gradually gave way to warehouses, empty commercial buildings, and wide roads used by freight vehicles.
The old evidence warehouse stood behind a rusted metal fence.
Its windows were dark.
Several sections of the roof appeared damaged.
A black vehicle was parked near the loading entrance.
Marcus recognized the registration number from the vehicle information Daniel had sent.
It belonged to Daniel Price.
The investigators approached carefully.
One officer checked the front entrance.
Another moved toward the side of the building.
Marcus remained behind the team leader.
They called out.
"Daniel Price! This is an independent investigative team. We need to speak with you."
There was no response.
The team leader tried again.
"Daniel, if you're inside, please let us know you're safe."
A faint noise came from somewhere near the loading area.
The investigators moved toward it.
Behind a stack of old wooden pallets, they found a narrow metal door.
It was partially open.
One investigator looked inside.
A man was sitting on the floor with his back against the wall.
He appeared exhausted.
His shirt was wrinkled, his face was pale, and a small cut was visible near his forehead.
Marcus stepped closer.
"Daniel Price?"
The man looked up.
For several seconds, he seemed unable to recognize the person standing in front of him.
Then his eyes widened.
"Commander Reed?"
Marcus nodded.
"Yes. We're here to help."
Price tried to stand but struggled.
An investigator helped him.
"Are you injured?"
"Not seriously."
"What happened?"
Price looked toward the entrance.
"They came here last night."
Marcus became attentive.
"Who?"
"I don't know their names. Two men. They wanted the records."
"Did they take anything?"
Price shook his head.
"Not the originals."
"Where are they?"
Price looked toward a metal cabinet behind him.
"Inside."
The investigators immediately secured the area.
Price pointed toward a small black storage case.
"Everything is in there."
Marcus looked at him.
"Is the evidence transfer ledger inside?"
Price nodded.
"And the recording?"
"Yes."
Marcus took a breath.
"What does the recording show?"
Price looked directly at him.
"It shows Graham Voss and Harold Bennett discussing the forty-nine cases."
Marcus remained silent.
Price continued.
"They knew the reports were being changed. They knew the evidence was being moved. And they knew your name was being used to approve the Eastbridge file."
Marcus felt his jaw tighten.
"Why was my signature used?"
Price looked down.
"Because they needed someone with a clean reputation."
Marcus stared at him.
Price continued.
"You were respected. Your reports were considered reliable. If the Eastbridge file carried your approval, nobody would question whether the evidence had been reviewed."
Marcus remained still.
"Who forged the signature?"
Price shook his head.
"I don't know who physically signed it. But I know who ordered the document to be created."
"Who?"
Price looked at him.
"Harold Bennett."
Marcus glanced toward the black case.
"Then we need that recording."
Price nodded.
"But there's something else."
"What?"
Price lowered his voice.
"The original fifty files were not the only records they kept."
Marcus looked at him.
"Explain."
Price took a breath.
"There's a separate archive. A private archive. It contains copies of every instruction, every payment record, and every authorization connected to the operation."
"Where?"
Price hesitated.
"Inside the regional administration building."
Marcus's expression changed.
"Inside the building where Bennett works?"
Price nodded.
"Yes."
Marcus looked toward the investigators.
They were examining the black case.
One of them opened the lid carefully.
Inside were several storage devices, a notebook, and a thick ledger bound with a black cover.
The investigator looked toward Marcus.
"Commander, we have located the material."
Marcus approached.
The ledger was old.
Its cover was worn, and several pages had been marked with colored tabs.
Price looked at it.
"That's the original transfer record."
Marcus opened the first page.
A list of case numbers appeared.
He turned several pages.
Names.
Dates.
Evidence locations.
Authorization codes.
And signatures.
He recognized several names from the documents Iris had shown him.
He also recognized the signature of Graham Voss.
The ledger contained entries showing that evidence had been transferred between storage locations without the required approval.