Jonathan stared at him.
"Why?"
Harris glanced toward Whitmore.
Then back at Jonathan.
"Because the Blue File was supposed to have been destroyed four years ago."
8. THE RECORD THAT NEVER EXISTED
They moved into a small conference room beside the administrative offices.
Jonathan sat at the head of the table.
Grace took the chair to his right.
Captain Harris stood beside the closed door.
Whitmore remained outside under the supervision of Officer Miller.
Jonathan opened his briefcase.
"Start talking."
Harris rubbed his forehead.
"Four years ago, the department conducted an internal review involving several officers assigned to this precinct."
"What kind of review?"
"An investigation into missing evidence."
Grace immediately looked up.
"Missing evidence?"
Harris nodded.
"Seized cash. Confiscated electronics. Documents connected to an organized-crime investigation."
Jonathan frowned.
"Why haven't I seen this case?"
"Because the original investigation was closed before you became chief."
"By whom?"
Harris hesitated.
"Deputy Commissioner Vance."
Jonathan leaned back.
"Of course."
Harris continued.
"At the time, there were allegations that several officers had been moving evidence between storage facilities without proper authorization."
"Names?"
"I don't remember all of them."
"Captain."
Harris looked uncomfortable.
"I remember Whitmore."
Grace exchanged a glance with Jonathan.
"Sergeant Whitmore?"
Harris nodded.
"He was a patrol officer then. He wasn't in charge of anything. But his name appeared in the access logs."
Jonathan's expression hardened.
"What happened?"
"The investigation went quiet. The records were sealed. A few officers were transferred. One retired."
"And the Blue File?"
Harris took a breath.
"It contained the original evidence movement records, the names of everyone involved, and a list of unauthorized system access codes."
Jonathan leaned forward.
"Who destroyed it?"
Harris looked directly at him.
"That's what we were told."
"Who told you?"
"Deputy Commissioner Vance."
Jonathan was silent.
Grace opened her notebook.
"Was the file physically destroyed?"
Harris hesitated.
"No."
Jonathan stared at him.
"Then where is it?"
Harris looked down.
"I don't know."
Jonathan's voice became colder.
"Captain, you're telling me a restricted file containing evidence of police misconduct was supposedly destroyed, but nobody can tell me where the original documents went?"
Harris nodded slowly.
"That's correct."
"Did you ever see the file?"
"Yes."
"Who else?"
Harris took a moment before answering.
"Vance. Whitmore. Two administrative officers. And one person from the mayor's office."
Grace stopped writing.
"The mayor's office?"
Harris nodded.
"An outside liaison. He was present during the final review."
Jonathan looked at Grace.
"Did you know about this?"
"No, Chief."
Jonathan returned his attention to Harris.
"What's the liaison's name?"
Harris hesitated.
Then he answered.
"Arthur Bell."
Jonathan recognized the name.
Arthur Bell was the mayor's director of public safety coordination.
A man who had attended several meetings with the department's senior leadership.
A man who had personally congratulated Jonathan after his appointment.
A man who had recently requested a private meeting with him.
Jonathan slowly closed his folder.
"Now I understand why Vance wants to meet."
Grace frowned.
"What do you mean?"