Emily looked toward the office door before answering.
Emily Carter: "I don't know the official reason. But people said she had problems with some of the senior officers."
Adrian Cole: "What kind of problems?"
Emily lowered her voice.
Emily Carter: "She questioned some evidence records. She said certain files didn't match the original reports."
Adrian listened carefully.
Emily Carter: "After that, she stopped being invited to meetings. Then her access was restricted. Eventually, they moved her downstairs."
Adrian Cole: "Did she make a formal complaint?"
Emily nodded.
Emily Carter: "Several, I think."
Adrian Cole: "Were they investigated?"
Emily looked uncomfortable.
Emily Carter: "Not properly, as far as I know."
Adrian leaned back slightly.
Adrian Cole: "Has anyone else raised similar concerns?"
Emily remained silent for a moment.
Then she answered carefully.
Emily Carter: "There are people who know things, Chief. But most of them don't want to get involved."
Adrian looked at her.
Adrian Cole: "Why?"
Emily took a breath.
Emily Carter: "Because people who speak up usually lose something."
Adrian did not interrupt.
Emily Carter: "A better assignment. A promotion. Sometimes even their position. People learn to keep their heads down."
Adrian studied her expression.
He remembered the silence in reception when Derek had struck him.
Now he understood that silence might have been learned over many years.
Adrian Cole: "Did you witness what happened this morning because you were afraid of Derek?"
Emily looked down.
Emily Carter: "Yes."
Adrian waited.
Emily Carter: "I knew what he was doing was wrong. But I also knew he could make my life difficult if I challenged him."
Adrian nodded slowly.
Adrian Cole: "Thank you for being honest."
Emily looked up.
Adrian Cole: "I want you to understand something. You will not be punished for providing an accurate account of what you witnessed."
Emily appeared relieved, although she remained cautious.
Emily Carter: "I hope things really will change."
Adrian closed the folder.
Adrian Cole: "That's why I'm here."
After Emily left, Adrian spent another hour reviewing the department's internal records.
He discovered that several important reports had been stored in a separate administrative system rather than the main investigative database.
The files were not classified.
They were simply difficult to locate.
A number of them concerned complaints against officers who had close professional relationships with Deputy Chief Vance.
There were also unusual payments connected to departmental training programs and equipment purchases.
Several invoices listed the same private consulting company.
The company had received contracts for services that appeared to overlap with work already performed by department employees.
Adrian wrote down the company name.
He intended to examine it later.
At 11:40 a.m., a knock sounded at his office door.
Adrian looked up.
A woman stood outside.
She wore plain dark trousers, a simple blouse, and a department identification card attached to her belt.
Her hair was tied back.
Her expression was serious.
Adrian recognized her from the personnel file.
Elena Alvarez.
Elena Alvarez: "Chief Cole?"
Adrian stood.
Adrian Cole: "Detective Alvarez. Please come in."
Elena entered and closed the door behind her.
She did not sit immediately.
Instead, she looked at the folders on his desk.
Elena Alvarez: "I heard you've been reviewing some old records."
Adrian gestured toward the chair.
Adrian Cole: "I have."
Elena sat down.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Elena looked directly at him.
Elena Alvarez: "I assume you've already heard what happened in reception."
Adrian nodded.
Adrian Cole: "It's difficult to keep something like that quiet."
Elena gave a faint, humorless smile.
Elena Alvarez: "Around here, people usually manage."
Adrian studied her.
Adrian Cole: "You were transferred from investigations six months ago."
Elena nodded.
Elena Alvarez: "That's correct."
Adrian Cole: "Your file suggests that the transfer was related to a disagreement over evidence handling."
Elena leaned forward.
Elena Alvarez: "It wasn't a disagreement. I found records that didn't match the original evidence logs."
Adrian opened the folder.
Adrian Cole: "Tell me about them."
Elena took a moment before answering.
Elena Alvarez: "I was assigned to a financial fraud case involving a contractor who had received several city payments. During the investigation, I discovered that certain documents had been replaced after they were entered into the evidence system."
Adrian listened.