Rebecca turned from the computer.
"Chief?"
Jonathan looked over.
"Yes, Officer?"
"There's something else."
She pointed at the audit log.
"I found another access record."
"From whom?"
Rebecca swallowed.
"Your own account."
Jonathan looked at the screen.
The timestamp was 2:14 a.m.
The date was six weeks earlier.
He stared at it.
"I wasn't here that night."
Rebecca nodded.
"I checked the entry log. Your security badge wasn't used at the building."
Grace stepped closer.
"Could someone have used your credentials remotely?"
"Apparently."
Rebecca clicked the record.
A new line appeared.
FILE OPENED: 24-AR-0917.
ACTION: PERSONNEL STATUS MODIFICATION.
SUBJECT: JONATHAN M. HAYES.
STATUS: UNDER REVIEW — REMOVAL PENDING.
Jonathan read the final line twice.
"Removal pending?"
Grace looked at him.
"Chief, someone has been preparing to remove you from command."
Whitmore suddenly spoke from behind them.
"Now you understand."
Jonathan turned.
Whitmore's face was pale.
"Understand what?"
The sergeant looked at the computer.
"They weren't trying to arrest you because they thought you were a criminal."
He paused.
"They were trying to make sure you couldn't stop what was coming."
7. THE SECOND IDENTIFICATION
At 9:26 a.m., Captain Michael Harris arrived.
He was a broad-shouldered man in his late forties with a calm voice and an unusually observant expression.
He entered the lobby carrying a cup of coffee.
The moment he saw Jonathan, he stopped.
"Chief?"
Jonathan nodded.
"Captain."
Harris looked at the open briefcase.
Then the handcuffs on the counter.
Then Whitmore.
"What happened?"
Jonathan gave him a short explanation.
Harris listened without interrupting.
When Jonathan finished, the captain placed his coffee on the counter.
"You're telling me Whitmore handcuffed you?"
"Yes."
Harris looked at the sergeant.
"Daniel, tell me that's not true."
Whitmore said nothing.
Harris shook his head.
"Unbelievable."
Jonathan raised one hand.
"Captain, I need you to take control of the precinct floor."
"Of course."
"Keep everyone in their current assignments. No unauthorized transfers, no sudden leave requests, and no one accesses the restricted records without Internal Affairs present."
Harris nodded.
"Understood."
"Also, I want the building's visitor logs from the last ninety days."
"What are we looking for?"
"Anyone who entered the administrative wing outside normal operating hours."
Harris turned toward Rebecca.
"Can you prepare those?"
"Yes, Captain."
Harris looked back at Jonathan.
"Anything else?"
Jonathan hesitated.
Then he glanced toward Whitmore.
"Find out who authorized his access to the Blue File."
Harris frowned.
"The Blue File?"
Jonathan showed him the record.
The captain's expression changed immediately.
"Where did you get this?"
"From the system."
Harris leaned closer.
"That's impossible."
Jonathan looked at him.
"Why?"
"That file shouldn't exist anymore."
The words seemed to hit the room like a sudden explosion.
Grace turned toward him.
"What do you mean it shouldn't exist?"
Harris looked around.
He seemed to realize he had said too much.
"Captain?" Jonathan asked.
Harris lowered his voice.
"Chief, I think we need to talk somewhere private."