Before he could leave, his phone vibrated.
An unknown number had sent him a message.
THE WOMAN IN THE GREEN COAT HAS THE ORIGINAL RECORDS.
Marcus stared at the screen.
A second message arrived.
IF VOSS FINDS HER FIRST, FORTY-NINE PEOPLE WILL LOSE THEIR LAST CHANCE TO CLEAR THEIR NAMES.
He read the message twice.
Forty-nine people.
He looked back at the surveillance monitor.
The image of Voss handing the folded paper to Briggs was still visible.
Marcus felt the situation becoming much larger than the assault outside the headquarters.
He had arrived expecting to inspect a police department.
Instead, he had discovered evidence that someone inside the department had deliberately arranged to target him.
And the same person appeared to be connected to a collection of criminal cases involving forty-nine people.
Marcus called Daniel Kim.
"Sergeant, where is Officer Hart?"
"She's near the administrative offices, sir."
"Ask her to come to my office. Do not mention the message I just received."
"Understood."
"Also, I need you to locate the woman in the green coat. Her name is Iris Whitcomb. But do not approach her aggressively, and do not alert Deputy Chief Voss."
Daniel paused.
"Is there a problem, Commander?"
"There's a serious matter that requires immediate attention. I'll explain when you arrive."
"Yes, sir."
Marcus ended the call.
He looked at the unknown number again.
There was no name.
No explanation.
Only two sentences that suggested someone knew exactly what had happened before Marcus even reached the headquarters.
He typed a reply.
WHO IS THIS?
The message was delivered.
No answer came.
Marcus returned to the surveillance room.
"Aaron, I want every recording involving Iris Whitcomb from the past thirty days."
"Yes, Commander."
"Include the entrances, the parking area, and any camera covering the side passage."
Aaron began searching.
Several files appeared.
Marcus watched as Iris approached the building on different mornings.
Sometimes she stood near the entrance for several minutes.
Sometimes she spoke with security personnel.
On one occasion, she placed a document against the glass doors and pointed toward the reception desk.
On another, Briggs appeared and ordered her to leave.
In one recording, a second officer approached her and took photographs of the envelope.
Marcus leaned closer.
"Who is that officer?"
Aaron checked the image.
"Officer Michael Turner."
"Is he still assigned here?"
"Yes, sir."
"Find his duty schedule."
Aaron opened another system.
Marcus continued watching.
The recordings showed a pattern.
Iris had not simply visited the department once or twice.
She had repeatedly attempted to deliver the same evidence.
And each time, someone had prevented her from reaching the people who were supposed to investigate her allegations.
Marcus's phone vibrated again.
Another message.
DO NOT TRUST THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS OFFICE.
A third message followed.
THE FORTY-NINE FILES WERE NEVER SUPPOSED TO BE FOUND.
Marcus stared at the words.
The sender knew about the hidden records.
They also knew that the evidence had not been submitted through official channels.
He looked toward Aaron.
"Can you trace the sender?"
"Not from the message itself, sir. We'd need the appropriate technical process."
"Don't attempt anything outside the authorized procedure."
"Understood."
Marcus put his phone away.
He was now facing two immediate problems.
First, he needed to establish why Voss had given Briggs a photograph of him and arranged for the officer to intercept him.
Second, he needed to locate Iris Whitcomb before someone else did.
He could not assume that the person sending the messages was trustworthy.
It could be a warning.
It could also be an attempt to manipulate him.
Either way, the evidence needed to be secured.
Marcus returned to his office.
Daniel and Simone were waiting outside.
Daniel stood when he saw him.
"Commander, you asked to see us."
"Come inside."
They entered and closed the door.
Marcus placed the phone on his desk.
"I need to explain what we have found."
He described the recordings of Iris, the envelope, and the meeting between Briggs and Voss.
Simone listened with growing concern.
Daniel looked stunned.
"Deputy Chief Voss personally met with Briggs?"
"The recording shows them exchanging the envelope and a document."
"Was the document readable?"
"Not clearly. But it contained a photograph of me."
Daniel stared at him.
"Your photograph?"
"Yes."
Simone looked at the screen.
"That means they knew you were coming."
"That's what the evidence suggests."
Daniel shook his head.
"Why would Voss want to stop you from entering the building?"
Marcus did not answer immediately.
He opened the department's preliminary appointment documents.
"Before I accepted this position, I received a confidential briefing about several unresolved cases. There were concerns about the reliability of evidence in a number of investigations."
Simone leaned forward.
"Was that connected to the woman?"
"I don't know yet."
Marcus continued.
"The briefing mentioned a pattern of complaints involving missing records, inconsistent witness statements, and cases that had been closed despite unresolved questions."
Daniel looked troubled.
"How many cases?"
"The original report did not provide a confirmed number."
Marcus glanced at the message.
"But someone now claims there are forty-nine people whose cases were affected."
Simone lowered her eyes.
"That would explain why Iris kept coming back."
Marcus looked at her.