Marcus watched himself approach the building.
Briggs stepped into his path.
The conversation continued.
Then the physical confrontation began.
The recording showed the officer grabbing Marcus by the collar and shoving him against the stone wall.
It showed Briggs raising his arm.
It showed Marcus defending himself.
And it showed Briggs falling backward onto the pavement.
Marcus watched the sequence without speaking.
The evidence was clear.
There was no indication that he had initiated the physical confrontation.
Aaron looked uncomfortable.
"Sir, I'm sorry you had to experience that."
Marcus shook his head.
"You didn't cause it."
He leaned closer to the monitor.
"Show me the camera covering the side entrance."
Aaron changed the view.
The recording showed a quieter section of the courtyard.
Employees crossed the area. A delivery worker carried several boxes toward the service entrance.
Then an older woman appeared.
Marcus immediately recognized the faded green coat.
It was Iris Whitcomb.
She approached the entrance carrying the same brown envelope.
The camera had no audio, but the interaction was visible.
Iris spoke to Briggs.
She held out the envelope.
Briggs shook his head.
She tried to explain something.
The officer looked around, then snatched the envelope from her hands.
Marcus leaned forward.
"Pause."
Aaron froze the recording.
The image showed Iris looking frightened.
Briggs appeared angry.
"Do you recognize her?" Marcus asked.
Aaron nodded.
"Yes, sir."
"Who is she?"
"Iris Whitcomb. She's been coming here for months."
"Why?"
"She says she has evidence that several police reports were falsified."
Marcus looked at the envelope on the screen.
"Has she ever been allowed to submit it?"
Aaron shifted in his chair.
"Not through the normal process, sir."
"Why?"
"Security received instructions not to let her enter."
"Who issued those instructions?"
Aaron hesitated.
Marcus looked at him.
"You're not in trouble for answering a question. I need an accurate account."
Aaron swallowed.
"Deputy Chief Voss."
Marcus's expression tightened.
"Did you receive that instruction directly?"
"Not directly. It was sent through the security supervisor. He said the deputy chief had classified her visits as a security concern."
"Was there a written order?"
"I believe so."
"Can you locate it?"
"Yes, sir."
Marcus nodded.
"Preserve it."
Aaron returned to the recording.
Iris was still standing near the entrance.
Briggs pushed her away from the doors.
She stumbled but managed to remain upright.
Then she walked toward the bus shelter.
Briggs looked around before carrying the envelope toward the side passage.
Marcus watched closely.
"Follow him."
Aaron switched to another camera.
Briggs appeared near the service corridor.
He continued toward the parking area.
A black government sedan was parked beside the building.
Someone was standing near the passenger door.
The man wore an expensive gray suit.
Marcus recognized him immediately.
Deputy Chief Graham Voss.
The officer approached and handed him the brown envelope.
Voss opened it.
He looked inside for several seconds, then closed it.
He removed a folded piece of paper from his jacket and handed it to Briggs.
The officer unfolded the paper.
He read it.
Then he looked toward the main entrance.
Marcus felt his stomach tighten.
"Can you enlarge that?"
Aaron zoomed in.
The image became clearer, although the writing remained difficult to read.
There was a photograph attached to the paper.
A man wearing a black jacket.
Marcus recognized the face.
It was his own.
For several seconds, he stared at the screen.
The photograph showed him in the same clothing he had worn that morning.
Briggs had not simply encountered an unfamiliar visitor and decided to intimidate him.
Someone had identified Marcus before he arrived.
Someone had given the officer instructions.
And the person who had done it was Graham Voss.
The man Marcus had trusted for nearly three decades.
Aaron turned toward him.
"Commander?"
Marcus did not answer immediately.
He watched Voss fold the paper and place it back inside his jacket.
Then the deputy chief walked toward the government sedan.
The recording ended.
Marcus slowly stood.
"Preserve this footage separately. I want a verified copy secured outside the department's normal system."
"Yes, sir."
"Also preserve the recording showing the transfer of the envelope."
"Understood."
Marcus looked at the technician.
"Has anyone else accessed these recordings?"
Aaron checked the audit log.
"Not since the preservation hold was initiated."
"Check the access history from the beginning of the shift."
Aaron began typing.
A moment later, his expression changed.
"Commander, there's something unusual."
Marcus turned.
"What?"
"The side entrance footage was accessed twice before you requested it."
"By whom?"
Aaron checked the record.
"The first access was under the security supervisor's account. The second was under an administrative account assigned to the deputy chief's office."
Marcus looked at the screen.
"What time?"
"Eight twelve and eight twenty-six."
The first access had occurred shortly after Iris delivered the envelope.
The second had happened shortly before Marcus arrived.
Marcus felt the pieces beginning to connect.
"Can you determine whether anything was exported or deleted?"
Aaron examined the log.
"I can't confirm that yet. The system records show access, but I need to compare the stored file versions and the backup records."
"Do that."
Aaron nodded.
Marcus turned toward the door.