Deputy Chief Robert Vance occupied an office on the third floor of the Westbridge Police Department.
It was larger than the captain's office and overlooked the city's central square.
The walls were decorated with photographs of award ceremonies, community events, and police graduations.
Vance had served the department for thirty-one years.
He was sixty-one, tall, silver-haired, and known for speaking softly even when delivering unpleasant news.
Unlike Harlan, he rarely shouted.
He didn't need to.
His authority was understood.
When Olivia entered, Vance was standing behind his desk.
"Detective Brooks. Please sit."
She remained standing.
"Thank you, sir. I'll stand."
Vance smiled politely.
"Still uncomfortable around authority?"
"Not at all."
"Then perhaps you're uncomfortable around me."
"Should I be?"
His smile disappeared.
He gestured toward a chair.
"Let's not waste time."
Olivia sat.
Vance opened a folder.
"I've reviewed the complaints involving your recent conduct."
"Which complaints?"
"Your refusal to follow a lawful supervisory instruction. Your unauthorized handling of restricted documents. Your continued interference in a closed criminal investigation."
"The Price case isn't closed."
"Mr. Price was convicted."
"That doesn't mean the evidence was reliable."
Vance leaned back.
"Detective, you have a habit of confusing suspicion with proof."
Olivia looked at him.
"And you have a habit of treating a conviction as proof that no misconduct occurred."
His jaw tightened.
"Be careful."
"That's the second time someone has said that to me this week."
"Perhaps you should start listening."
Vance opened another folder.
"We are considering placing you on administrative leave."
"On whose recommendation?"
"Mine."
"Based on what evidence?"
"Your conduct."
Olivia nodded slowly.
"Then I assume you've also reviewed the evidence showing Sergeant Harlan forcibly opened a restricted Internal Affairs envelope after being explicitly warned not to touch it."
Vance's eyes narrowed.
"That is an internal personnel matter."
"An internal investigation involving him."
"Which does not concern you."
Olivia looked directly at him.
"Actually, it does."
Vance closed the folder.
"Let me tell you something about this department. We are not perfect. Nobody is. We make difficult decisions under pressure, and sometimes those decisions are misunderstood."
"Are you referring to the Daniel Price arrest?"
Vance's expression remained neutral.
"That case has been adjudicated."
"Are you referring to the missing surveillance footage?"
"No comment."
"Or the payments made to Northstar Protective Services?"
Vance's fingers stopped moving.
For the first time, Olivia saw genuine discomfort.
"What do you know about Northstar?"
"Enough to ask questions."
"Who gave you those records?"
"That's not relevant."
"It is very relevant."
Vance stood.
"I think we're finished."
Olivia also stood.
"One more question."
He looked annoyed.
"What?"
"Why did you order the original recording destroyed?"
Vance didn't answer.
Olivia placed a photograph on his desk.
It showed three men standing in the parking lot.
Mercer.
Harlan.
And Vance.
The deputy chief stared at it.
Then he slowly looked up.
"Where did you get this?"
"From a preserved copy of the original security footage."
Vance picked up the photograph.
His expression had become unreadable.
"Who else has seen this?"
"Internal Affairs. The district attorney's office is being notified."
Vance placed the photograph down.
"Then you've made a very serious mistake."
"Why?"
"Because you have no idea what that footage actually shows."
"Then explain it."
Vance stepped around his desk.
"That night, we were conducting an operation involving a confidential informant. Price was connected to the operation. The firearm was recovered during a legitimate search."
"Then why was the evidence inventory changed?"
"Administrative correction."
"Why was the recording deleted?"
"Technical issue."
"Why did Mercer admit ordering it destroyed?"
Vance stopped.
Olivia watched him carefully.
He hadn't expected that information.
Then the deputy chief walked toward the door.
"You're suspended pending review."
"Has that decision been approved by the department's legal office?"
"It will be."
"Then I'll wait for the written notice."
Vance opened the door.
Two uniformed officers were standing outside.
"Escort Detective Brooks from the building."
Olivia picked up her bag.
But before she walked past him, she turned.
"Deputy Chief?"
"What?"
"The report Sergeant Harlan tore open is not the only report Internal Affairs has."
Vance looked at her.
She continued.
"There's a second investigation. It concerns Northstar, the missing money, and the people who approved the contracts."
Vance's expression barely changed.
But his right hand tightened around the doorframe.
Olivia noticed.
Then she walked out.
As she crossed the third-floor hallway, her phone vibrated.
A message from Reed appeared.
THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY HAS APPROVED A FORMAL CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION. DO NOT GO HOME ALONE.
A second message followed.
WE ALSO FOUND JAMES LAWSON.
Olivia stopped walking.
She read the message again.
Then she called Reed.
"Where is he?"
"At a hospital outside the city."
"Is he alive?"
"Yes."
"What happened?"
Reed took a breath.
"He was found unconscious near a highway rest area six months ago. He was treated under an unidentified patient record. He's been recovering in a rehabilitation facility."
Olivia closed her eyes briefly.
"Does he have the original evidence?"
Reed paused.
"That's why I called."
"Tell me."
"James says the video is only half of what he found."
Olivia's voice became quiet.
"What is the other half?"
Reed answered:
"A recorded conversation between Harlan, Mercer, and Vance."