Peter Lawson lived in a small apartment complex on the eastern side of Westbridge.
The building was old, with faded brown brick and a narrow parking lot surrounded by bare trees.
Olivia arrived shortly after noon with Detective Sarah Mitchell.
They had informed Lieutenant Reed of their destination and documented the visit in the investigation log.
Lawson's name appeared on the original surveillance upload record.
If anyone could explain what happened to the missing recording, it was him.
Olivia knocked on apartment 3B.
No answer.
She knocked again.
A television could be heard inside.
"Mr. Lawson? Police department."
The television went silent.
After several seconds, the door opened a few inches.
A thin man in his late forties looked through the gap.
His face changed when he saw Olivia's badge.
"I don't want any trouble."
"We're not here to cause trouble," Olivia said. "We'd like to ask you about a security recording from the Westbridge shopping center three years ago."
Lawson immediately started closing the door.
Sarah placed her foot near the threshold.
"Sir, please. We only need a few minutes."
"I already told the police everything."
"When?"
"Back then."
"Who did you speak to?"
Lawson looked at Olivia.
"Sergeant Harlan."
Olivia exchanged a glance with Sarah.
"Did you give him a statement?"
"Yes."
"Did you upload the surveillance footage?"
Lawson hesitated.
"Look, I don't know what you're trying to do."
"We're reviewing the disappearance of a recording associated with the Daniel Price arrest."
Lawson's eyes widened.
He looked down the hallway.
Then he stepped outside and closed the door behind him.
"Keep your voices down."
Olivia lowered hers.
"Why?"
"Because I don't know who's listening."
Sarah looked around.
The corridor was empty.
Lawson rubbed his hands together nervously.
"That recording showed something different from what was written in the report."
Olivia remained still.
"What did it show?"
"Mr. Price was already standing outside his vehicle when the officers arrived."
"Was he carrying anything?"
"No."
"Did you see an arrest?"
"Yes. But it wasn't like the report said."
"Explain."
Lawson swallowed.
"I was monitoring the cameras from the security office. I saw two officers approach him. They spoke for a few minutes. Then one of them opened the driver's door."
"Which officer?"
"Harlan."
"Did he search the vehicle?"
"Yes."
"With permission?"
"I don't know."
Lawson looked increasingly uncomfortable.
"But I saw something."
Olivia waited.
"He went around to the passenger side. He opened the door, reached down, and came back holding something."
"What?"
"A black object. I couldn't see clearly."
Sarah took out her notebook.
"Did you recognize it as a firearm?"
Lawson nodded.
"That's what it looked like."
"Did you see where he found it?"
"No. That's the point. The camera angle didn't show the inside of the vehicle."
Olivia considered that.
"What happened next?"
"Price started arguing. Harlan pushed him against the car. Then the second officer handcuffed him."
"Who was the second officer?"
"Thomas Bell."
Olivia made a note.
"Did you preserve the footage?"
"Yes."
"Did you give it to Harlan?"
Lawson looked down.
"I made a copy."
"Where is it?"
He didn't answer.
"Mr. Lawson, we need that recording."
"I can't."
"Why?"
"Because I gave it to someone."
"Who?"
Lawson's eyes moved toward the stairwell.
Then he whispered a name.
"Captain Mercer."
Olivia felt her stomach tighten.
"Captain Mercer received the original copy?"
"Not the original. A duplicate."
"Why?"
"Because Harlan came to the security office the next morning. He told me the footage was part of an active investigation and ordered me to hand it over."
"And you did?"
"I gave him a copy. But before that, I made another one."
"Why didn't you tell Internal Affairs?"
Lawson gave a bitter laugh.
"Because the next day, my manager told me I'd lose my job if I got involved in a police matter."
Olivia watched his face.
"Where is your copy now?"
Lawson hesitated for several seconds.
Then he looked directly at her.
"At my brother's house."
"Can you retrieve it?"
"Maybe."
"Why only maybe?"
"Because my brother disappeared six months ago."
Sarah's pen stopped moving.
"What do you mean, disappeared?"
"He was driving home from work. His car was found near the river. No body. No explanation."
Olivia's voice softened.
"Was his name connected to the Price case?"
"No. But he knew what was on that recording."
A sudden noise came from the parking lot.
A dark SUV had stopped near the entrance.
Lawson looked through the stairwell window.
His face went pale.
"That's them."
Olivia turned.
"Who?"
Lawson stepped backward.
"I told you. I don't want trouble."
The SUV's engine remained running.
A man in a baseball cap got out.
He looked toward the building.
Olivia immediately moved between Lawson and the hallway entrance.
"Sarah, call Reed. Tell him we may have a witness intimidation situation."
The man outside started walking toward the entrance.
Then Lawson grabbed Olivia's sleeve.
"There's something else."
"What?"
He leaned close.
"The recording doesn't just show Harlan."
Olivia waited.
Lawson whispered:
"It shows Captain Mercer getting out of another car."
Before she could ask another question, the front entrance door opened.
The man in the baseball cap stepped inside.