At 10:30 a.m., Daniel Mitchell sat in a small interview room with Detective Reed and an investigator from the department's independent oversight office.
His hands rested on the table.
He had not slept well the previous night. Every time he closed his eyes, he imagined someone entering his locker and removing the folder without leaving a trace.
The investigator introduced herself as Special Investigator Elaine Foster.
She was in her early fifties, direct, professional, and known for asking questions that made even experienced officers uncomfortable.
"Officer Mitchell, this interview is voluntary, correct?"
"Yes."
"You understand that we are reviewing potential evidence interference and supervisory misconduct?"
"Yes."
"Then let's begin with the folder Lieutenant Bennett gave you."
Mitchell explained how Bennett had summoned him to his office, instructed him to review several Sentinel-related cases, and warned him not to distribute the original documents.
Foster listened without interruption.
"Did you make copies?"
"No."
"Did you photograph any pages?"
Mitchell hesitated.
"One."
Reed looked up.
Victoria, who was observing from behind the interview room's glass partition, immediately focused on him.
Foster leaned forward.
"Why?"
"Because something seemed wrong."
"What seemed wrong?"
"The documents were supposedly months old, but the printing dates were recent. Some pages also had different formatting."
"Did you photograph the entire document?"
"No. Just the handwritten note and the last page."
"Where is the photograph?"
"On my personal phone."
Foster extended her hand.
"Please don't delete or alter it. We will document and preserve it according to procedure."
Mitchell nodded.
Foster continued.
"Did Lieutenant Bennett ask you to modify any reports?"
Mitchell looked down.
"Not directly."
"What does that mean?"
"He asked me to prepare a summary of the investigations. He wanted certain cases described as administrative delays rather than evidence-handling problems."
Foster's expression remained neutral.
"Did you agree?"
"I started preparing it."
"Did you submit it?"
"No."
"Why not?"
Mitchell looked toward the glass partition.
Victoria was standing behind it.
He took a breath.
"Because I realized the summary would leave out information that should have been included."
Foster wrote something in her notebook.
"Was that the first time you had been asked to prepare an inaccurate report?"
Mitchell's jaw tightened.
"No."
The room became quiet.
Reed leaned forward.
"Tell us about the previous incidents."
Mitchell rubbed his hands together.
"About four months ago, I was assigned to review a complaint involving missing equipment from a municipal storage facility. The original report indicated that several items had disappeared during a contractor's overnight security shift."
"Sentinel Protective Services?"
"Yes."
"What happened?"
"I found a discrepancy between the inventory records and the contractor's final report."
"Did you document it?"
"Yes."
"And?"
"Lieutenant Bennett told me the discrepancy was probably a clerical error. He asked me to close the report and move on."
"Did you?"
Mitchell nodded slowly.
"I did."
Foster waited.
"Why?"
"Because he was my supervisor. I believed he had more information than I did."
"Did you verify that information?"
"No."
"Did you inform anyone else?"
"No."
Mitchell's voice became quieter.
"I should have."
Foster closed her notebook.
"We're not here to determine your guilt or innocence based on one conversation. We're here to establish what happened. If you made a mistake, we need an accurate account of it."
Mitchell nodded.
"I understand."
The interview continued for another hour.
When it ended, Victoria entered the room.
Mitchell stood immediately.
"Captain."
"Sit down."
He obeyed.
Victoria pulled out a chair.
"I read your preliminary statement."
"Yes, Captain."
"I want to ask you something."
"Of course."
"Yesterday morning, when you first saw me, what made you assume I didn't belong in operations?"
Mitchell looked uncomfortable.
"I don't have a good answer."
"Try."
He took a breath.
"I saw a woman carrying a briefcase. I assumed she was administrative staff because that's what I expected to see."
"And when I told you I was there for the command briefing?"
"I thought you were mistaken."
"Why?"
He looked at the table.
"Because I had already decided what your role was before I knew anything about you."
Victoria nodded.
"That's an honest answer."
Mitchell looked up.
"I apologize for the way I treated you."
"Your apology is noted. But I want you to understand something."
She leaned forward.
"Respect is not something an officer should offer only after discovering someone's rank. Every person entering this building deserves professional treatment."
Mitchell nodded.
"I understand."
"Good. Now, regarding Bennett, do not attempt to confront him. Do not investigate his activities independently. If he contacts you, document it and inform the oversight team."
"Understood."
Victoria stood.
As she reached the door, Mitchell spoke again.
"Captain?"
She turned.
"Yes?"
"I think there's someone else involved."
Victoria paused.
"Who?"
Mitchell hesitated.
"An officer from the technology unit. I saw him entering Bennett's office several times after normal working hours."
"Do you know his name?"
"Eric Dawson."
Victoria exchanged a glance with Foster.
"How long has this been happening?"
"At least three months."
Victoria slowly nodded.
"Thank you, Officer."
She left the room.
In the hallway, Foster approached her.
"That name is interesting."
Victoria looked at her.
"Why?"
Foster opened her folder.
"Eric Dawson was the technician who handled the security system maintenance during the eleven-minute camera outage."
Victoria's expression hardened.
"Then we need to speak with him."
Foster closed the folder.
"We do. But I suspect he'll know we're coming."