"What do you know about her?"
Simone thought for a moment.
"She used to work in the department's records division. Not as an officer, but as an administrative clerk."
Marcus became attentive.
"How long ago?"
"Several years. I heard she left after a disagreement with senior management."
"Do you know what the disagreement involved?"
"No, sir."
Daniel looked toward her.
"I remember hearing her name before. She was involved in a case involving missing evidence logs."
Marcus turned.
"When?"
"Maybe four or five years ago. I don't remember the details."
"Who handled that investigation?"
Daniel hesitated.
"I believe it was under Deputy Chief Voss's division."
The room became silent.
Marcus looked at both officers.
"I want you to understand that we are not going to make accusations without evidence. We are going to establish what happened, identify the people involved, and preserve every relevant record."
Daniel nodded.
"Understood."
"Sergeant Kim, I want you to coordinate the preservation of the recordings with the external investigations division. Do not send the material through any office controlled by Voss."
"Yes, Commander."
"Officer Hart, I want a written statement about your previous report involving Briggs and Iris Whitcomb. Include everything you remember, even details that may seem unimportant."
Simone nodded.
"I'll prepare it."
Marcus continued.
"And neither of you should discuss this investigation outside the authorized team."
"Understood, sir."
After they left, Marcus sat alone for several minutes.
He looked at the photograph of himself on the surveillance screen.
Someone had known what he would be wearing.
Someone had known when he would arrive.
Someone had made sure that Briggs was standing outside the headquarters.
The attack was not necessarily an accidental encounter.
It might have been planned.
And if it had been planned, the reason could be hidden inside the brown envelope Iris Whitcomb had been carrying.
Marcus opened the appointment folder again.
He searched through the briefing documents, looking for references to the unresolved investigations.
Most were written in general terms.
There were references to missing evidence, irregular case closures, and allegations of improper influence.
But one paragraph caught his attention.
A confidential review had identified forty-nine cases requiring further examination because of inconsistencies in the original investigative records.
The cases involved different types of offenses.
Some concerned financial fraud.
Others involved violent crimes, missing property, and alleged criminal associations.
The people connected to those cases had not all been convicted.
Some had served prison sentences.
Others had been placed under investigation and lost their employment or reputations.
A few had been forced to leave the city.
The review had recommended an independent examination.
But the recommendation had never been fully implemented.
Marcus read the paragraph again.
Forty-nine cases.
Forty-nine people.
The same number mentioned in the message.
He closed the folder.
A knock came at the door.
"Come in."
The director entered.
"Commander, Deputy Chief Voss has returned."
Marcus looked up.
"Good. Arrange the meeting."
The director hesitated.
"He would prefer to meet tomorrow."
Marcus closed the folder.
"I would prefer to meet him today."
The director nodded.
"I'll inform him."
A few minutes later, another knock sounded.
The door opened.
Graham Voss entered wearing a dark gray suit.
His silver hair was neatly combed, and his expression was calm.
For a brief moment, he looked exactly as Marcus remembered him from years earlier.
The mentor who had guided his career.
The senior detective who had stood beside him during difficult investigations.
The man who had once told him that a good officer should never be afraid of the truth.
Voss smiled.
"Marcus. I heard about the unfortunate incident this morning."
Marcus stood.
"Good afternoon, Graham."
Voss approached and extended his hand.
"Welcome to Riverton. I wish your first day had gone differently."
Marcus shook his hand.
"Thank you."
Voss glanced at the chair.
"May I?"
"Please."
They sat opposite each other.
Voss looked toward Marcus's jacket.
"Are you all right? I heard Briggs became involved in a confrontation with you."
"I'm fine."
"He's an impulsive officer. Unfortunately, some younger personnel still need to learn how to handle difficult situations."
Marcus watched him carefully.
"Do you believe the incident was simply a matter of poor judgment?"
Voss shrugged.
"From what I've heard, there was a disagreement at the entrance. Briggs may have overreacted."
Marcus remained silent.
Voss continued.
"I'll make sure the matter is handled internally. We don't need an unnecessary distraction on your first day."
Marcus looked directly at him.
"Why was my photograph given to Officer Briggs before I arrived?"
Voss's expression changed.
Only slightly.
But Marcus noticed.
"What photograph?"
"A photograph of me wearing the black jacket I arrived in this morning."
Voss leaned back.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
Marcus opened a folder and placed a still image on the desk.
It showed Voss standing beside the government sedan, receiving the brown envelope from Briggs.
Voss looked at the photograph.
For the first time, his smile disappeared.
Marcus waited.
Then he spoke.
"I think you and I have a great deal to discuss."
Voss slowly raised his eyes.
"Where did you get this?"
"From the department's surveillance system."
Voss looked toward the door.
Marcus noticed the movement.