"We don't know."
Marcus considered the information.
"Contact the external investigators. They should verify his location through the appropriate process."
"Understood."
Daniel left the office.
Marcus remained by the window.
He had expected resistance.
He had expected that people connected to the investigation would attempt to protect themselves.
But the speed of their response suggested that someone had realized the evidence was no longer hidden.
The next few hours could determine whether the remaining records survived.
Marcus picked up his jacket.
He called Director Mitchell.
"We need an urgent meeting."
"I agree. My team has found something else."
"What?"
"The regional administration office has requested an emergency transfer of several archived case files."
Marcus stopped.
"Which files?"
"The Eastbridge records and twelve of the forty-nine disputed cases."
"Who authorized the transfer?"
"Deputy Commissioner Bennett."
Marcus looked toward the door.
"Has the transfer taken place?"
"Not yet. The request is pending."
"Then preserve the records immediately."
"We're working on it."
Marcus's voice became firm.
"Do not allow those files to leave the facility until the independent review is complete and the appropriate legal authority has been obtained."
"Understood."
He ended the call.
For a moment, the office was silent.
Then his phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
A message appeared.
THEY KNOW YOU HAVE THE LEDGER.
Another message followed.
THE MEETING TOMORROW IS NOT ABOUT THE FILES.
Marcus stared at the screen.
He typed:
WHAT IS IT ABOUT?
The reply came several seconds later.
THEY ARE GOING TO DECIDE WHO TAKES THE BLAME.
Marcus looked toward the dark windows.
A third message arrived.
AND YOUR NAME IS ALREADY ON THE LIST.
He read it twice.
Then the phone rang.
It was Iris Whitcomb.
Marcus answered immediately.
"Iris?"
Her voice was frightened.
"Commander, you need to listen to me."
"What happened?"
"They know I gave you the documents."
"Are you safe?"
"For now."
"Where are you?"
"I can't tell you over the phone."
Marcus stood.
"Have the investigators contacted you?"
"Yes, but something is wrong."
"What do you mean?"
"Someone came to the safe location asking for me."
Marcus's expression changed.
"Who?"
"They said they were from the protection team."
"Did you recognize them?"
"No. But they knew my name, my old address, and the case numbers."
Marcus looked toward the door.
"Did you leave with them?"
"No."
"Good. Stay where you are and do not open the door until the investigators verify their identities."
Iris took a breath.
"Commander, there's something I didn't tell you."
"What?"
"The original list contains fifty names, not forty-nine."
Marcus became still.
"We already know there were fifty original files."
"No. I mean fifty people."
He looked at the desk.
"Who is the fiftieth person?"
Iris hesitated.
Then she spoke.
"Your father."
Marcus did not move.
For several seconds, he could not find a response.
"My father?"
"Yes."
"What does he have to do with this?"
Iris's voice trembled.
"He was involved in the first investigation that exposed Northbridge Solutions."
Marcus felt the room grow strangely quiet.
His father had died many years earlier.
He had never mentioned anything about Northbridge.
He had worked as a municipal transport inspector, not as a police officer.
"What investigation?"
"The original warehouse contract investigation. It happened before the Eastbridge case. Your father reported irregularities involving the company's security contracts."
Marcus closed his eyes.
He remembered his father speaking occasionally about corruption in municipal procurement.
But he had never understood the full details.
Iris continued.
"His report was the reason the original records were created. After he died, the documents were transferred into the department archive."
Marcus opened his eyes.
"Why was his name removed?"
"Because the people involved wanted to make sure nobody could connect the original investigation to the later cases."
Marcus looked down at his hands.
"Was my father threatened?"
Iris was silent.
Then she answered.
"Yes."
Marcus felt something tighten in his chest.
"By whom?"
"I don't know exactly. But I found a letter in the original file."
"What did it say?"
"It said that if he continued asking questions, his family would suffer."
Marcus closed his eyes again.
For years, he had believed that his father had died without knowing how far his work had reached.
Now he was learning that the events surrounding his father's final years might have been connected to the same network he was investigating.
He took a slow breath.
"Where is the letter?"
"Not in the envelope I gave you."
"Where?"
"With Daniel Price."
Marcus looked toward the door.
"Does he still have it?"
"I believe so."
Marcus paused.
"Is there anything else?"
Iris lowered her voice.
"Yes. Your father left a statement."
Marcus's eyes widened.
"A statement?"
"He recorded it shortly before he died."
Marcus remained silent.
Iris continued.
"It explains why he believed Northbridge was using the police department to protect its contracts."
Marcus looked toward the evidence containers listed in the investigation report.
"Why didn't you tell me this earlier?"
"Because I wasn't sure I could trust you."
Marcus accepted the answer.
"That's understandable."
Iris took a breath.
"Commander, there's one more thing. Your father's statement names the person who originally ordered the records to be hidden."