Deputy Chief Raymond Harlan arrived at the station at 8:15 p.m.
He entered through the administrative entrance carrying a leather briefcase and a paper cup of coffee. His gray hair was neatly combed, and his navy suit looked as though it had just come from a tailor.
He was not a man who enjoyed surprises.
When he learned that Samuel Whitaker was in the building, his expression barely changed.
"Detective Whitaker," he said, entering the conference room. "I wasn't expecting you."
Samuel stood.
"That's becoming a familiar problem."
Harlan smiled politely.
"Still have that sense of humor, I see."
Evelyn remained seated.
"Deputy Chief, we need to discuss an authorization entered under your credentials."
Harlan placed his briefcase on the table.
"Which authorization?"
"The search involving Detective Whitaker."
Harlan looked at Samuel.
"That was you?"
Samuel nodded.
"Apparently."
Harlan took a sip of coffee.
"I can explain that. The system sometimes creates preliminary authorization entries when an officer opens an investigation."
"Twenty-four minutes before the stop?" Evelyn asked.
"Administrative timing errors happen."
Daniel stood near the door, listening.
Samuel pulled out a printed record.
"Then perhaps you can explain why the entry contains a description of my vehicle before I arrived at the location."
Harlan's smile faded slightly.
He looked at the document.
For the first time, he seemed genuinely surprised.
"Where did you get this?"
"From the system."
"That's confidential."
"That's why I expected you to know it existed."
Harlan closed the folder.
"Captain Brooks, I don't appreciate being interrogated without notice."
Evelyn remained calm.
"This isn't an interrogation. It's an internal review."
"Then where is Internal Affairs?"
Samuel answered.
"On their way."
Harlan looked directly at him.
"You have no authority to initiate an investigation into department administration without notifying the command office."
Samuel nodded.
"That's an interesting interpretation."
"Do you disagree?"
"Yes."
Harlan turned toward Evelyn.
"Captain, I expect you to understand the seriousness of allowing outside investigators to interfere with departmental operations."
Evelyn's voice remained steady.
"These are allegations of misconduct involving department personnel."
"Allegations that have not been proven."
"That's why we're investigating."
Harlan sighed.
"You're making a mistake."
Samuel watched him carefully.
"Is that a warning?"
"It's professional advice."
"Then I'll consider it."
Harlan picked up his briefcase.
"Good. Because I would hate to see a promising captain damage her career over an incomplete investigation."
He headed toward the door.
Samuel spoke again.
"Deputy Chief."
Harlan stopped.
"Yes?"
"Do you know Dennis Crowe?"
A brief silence followed.
Harlan turned.
"Who?"
Samuel slid the photograph across the table.
Harlan looked at it for less than two seconds.
"I don't know him."
"Are you sure?"
"Quite sure."
"He's been seen meeting Officer Bell several times."
Harlan shrugged.
"Officers meet people every day."
"At warehouses registered to companies that have received contracts from this department?"
Harlan's jaw tightened.
"Detective, I suggest you be careful about making accusations."
Samuel leaned back.
"I'm not making one."
"Then what are you doing?"
"Giving you an opportunity to explain."
Harlan picked up the photograph.
He studied it again.
Then he placed it back on the table.
"I have nothing to explain."
He left.
The conference room remained silent until the door closed.
Evelyn looked at Samuel.
"He knows something."
Samuel nodded.
"Yes."
Daniel shifted uneasily.
"Should we tell Internal Affairs?"
"We already have," Evelyn answered.
Samuel stood and walked toward the window.
Outside, rain had begun falling over the parking lot.
He could see Bell's patrol vehicle parked near the far entrance.
Its lights were off.
Its windows were dark.
"Captain," he said, "I want every officer assigned to Bell's unit identified. I also want the original dispatch recordings, property logs, and camera footage secured outside this building."
Evelyn frowned.
"Why outside?"
"Because if someone can alter the records here, we cannot assume anything stored on this network is safe."
Daniel looked toward the hallway.
"There's one more thing you should know."
Samuel turned.
"What?"
"Officer Bell left the station twenty minutes ago."
"Where did he go?"
Daniel swallowed.
"He didn't clock out."
Evelyn looked at him sharply.
"Then how do you know?"
Daniel lowered his voice.
"Because I saw him entering Deputy Chief Harlan's office."
Samuel stared at the closed door.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then he picked up the photograph of Bell and Crowe.
"Find out where Dennis Crowe is tonight."
Evelyn nodded.
"And what about Bell?"
Samuel placed the photograph back inside the folder.
"Let him believe he still has control."