Deputy Chief Robert Sullivan arrived at the precinct at 8:26 p.m.
He entered through the main doors without his usual entourage. His expression was tense, and he carried a thin black folder under his arm.
Victoria met him outside her office.
"Chief."
"Captain."
"Thank you for coming."
Sullivan looked toward Detective Reed.
"Can we speak privately?"
Victoria nodded.
"Detective Reed will remain available. He is directly involved in the evidence retrieval."
Sullivan did not look pleased.
"I'd prefer to keep this conversation limited."
Victoria's voice remained calm.
"With respect, Chief, the recording was retrieved under documented procedures. Detective Reed is a relevant witness to the retrieval and the subsequent access attempt."
Sullivan stared at her for a moment.
Then he sighed.
"Fine."
They entered her office.
Victoria closed the door.
Sullivan placed his folder on the desk.
"Tell me exactly what happened."
She explained the discovery of the audio recording, the evidence access attempt, and the system shutdown.
He listened without interrupting.
When she finished, he opened his folder.
"I've been expecting something like this."
Victoria frowned.
"Why?"
Sullivan removed several printed pages.
"Six months ago, I received an internal report concerning financial irregularities connected to Sentinel Protective Services."
"Was it investigated?"
"An initial review was conducted."
"By whom?"
Sullivan hesitated.
"Lieutenant Bennett was responsible for coordinating the department's response."
Victoria leaned back.
"That is a serious conflict of interest."
"I know."
"Did you know about the witness intimidation?"
"No."
"Did you know that evidence requests had disappeared?"
Sullivan looked down.
"No."
Victoria studied him.
"Then why did you tell me to proceed carefully this morning?"
Sullivan rubbed his forehead.
"Because the contractor's relationship with the department is more complicated than you realize."
"Explain."
He opened the folder.
Sentinel Protective Services had received several contracts over the previous two years. The company provided security personnel, access monitoring, and emergency support for municipal facilities.
Its contracts had been approved through multiple administrative channels.
However, several invoices appeared to include services that had never been performed.
The estimated financial discrepancy exceeded $2 million.
Victoria looked at the documents.
"Who approved these payments?"
"Several people."
"Names?"
Sullivan slid another page toward her.
Victoria read the list.
One name appeared repeatedly.
Lieutenant Charles Bennett.
Another belonged to a senior procurement officer.
The final name was Deputy Chief Robert Sullivan.
She slowly raised her eyes.
"You signed these approvals."
Sullivan did not deny it.
"Some of them."
"Why?"
"Because the reports I received indicated that the work had been completed."
"Did you verify them?"
"Not personally."
Victoria closed the folder.
"Chief, you understand how this looks."
"I do."
"Then you also understand that your involvement must be documented."
Sullivan stood.
"Are you accusing me of taking money?"
"I'm saying that your signature appears on payments connected to a potentially fraudulent contract."
"That's not the same thing."
"Correct. Which is why I need evidence rather than assumptions."
Sullivan looked at her for a long moment.
Then his expression changed.
"You think I brought you here because I wanted someone to take the blame?"
Victoria remained silent.
"I approved your transfer because I needed someone who wasn't connected to this precinct's internal politics."
"Then you should welcome an independent review."
"I do."
"Good."
Sullivan walked toward the window.
"I've spent thirty-two years building this department. I won't let a few corrupt people destroy it."
Victoria looked at him.
"Then you must be prepared to let the investigation reach everyone, including people who have served here for thirty-two years."
Sullivan turned.
Their eyes met.
For the first time since she had arrived, Victoria saw something in his expression beyond authority.
Fear.
Not necessarily fear of her.
Fear of what the investigation might uncover.
Sullivan picked up his folder.
"I'll arrange for an external oversight team."
"Thank you."
"But until they arrive, I want you to stop accessing the Sentinel files."
Victoria's expression hardened.
"Why?"
"Because the department's systems may be compromised."
"That is precisely why the evidence must be preserved."
"Captain, this is an order."
Victoria stood.
"And I am requesting that you put it in writing."
Sullivan stared at her.
She continued.
"If there is a legitimate security reason to suspend access, document it. If there is a legal restriction, identify it. But I will not abandon an active evidence-integrity review because someone is uncomfortable with the information."
Sullivan's jaw tightened.
"You are making this difficult."
"No, Chief. The circumstances are difficult. My responsibility is to make sure we handle them correctly."
He remained silent.
Then he left the office.
Victoria watched him disappear into the hallway.
A moment later, Detective Reed entered.
"How did it go?"
Victoria closed the door.
"Not well."
"Did he tell you something?"
"Yes."
She looked at the documents on her desk.
"Enough to confirm that the problem may reach much higher than Lieutenant Bennett."
Reed swallowed.
"How high?"
Victoria looked at the closed office door.
"High enough that we need to assume nobody is automatically beyond suspicion."