Jonathan looked toward the door.
"Because this isn't just about Whitmore."
He paused.
"It's about everyone who had access to that file."
9. THE EMPTY OFFICE
At 10:03 a.m., Jonathan entered his own office.
He had not planned to return there that morning.
But before leaving for headquarters, he wanted to retrieve a document he had stored in a locked drawer.
A document concerning the department's internal evidence policy.
He inserted his key.
The drawer opened.
It was empty.
Jonathan stared at it.
He checked the second drawer.
Then the third.
Nothing.
The document was gone.
He turned toward the desk.
His computer was still on.
A small notification appeared in the corner of the screen.
REMOTE SESSION TERMINATED.
Jonathan frowned.
He hadn't initiated a remote session.
He moved to the keyboard and opened the security log.
A remote connection had been established at 6:42 that morning.
The session had accessed his administrative account.
The location was listed as:
24TH PRECINCT — INTERNAL NETWORK.
But the connection source was not his office.
It was the room directly across the corridor.
The command records office.
Jonathan stepped out.
The room was empty.
He entered.
A computer sat on the desk.
Its screen was black.
He pressed the power button.
Nothing happened.
Then he noticed something beside the keyboard.
A small piece of paper.
Folded twice.
He opened it.
There were only seven words.
YOU SHOULD HAVE STAYED OUT OF THE BLUE FILE.
Jonathan stared at the message.
Then he heard footsteps behind him.
"Chief?"
He turned.
Rebecca stood in the doorway.
"Yes?"
She looked worried.
"Lieutenant Mitchell wants you in the lobby."
"Why?"
Rebecca hesitated.
"There's someone here to see you."
"Who?"
She lowered her voice.
"Deputy Commissioner Vance."
Jonathan folded the paper and placed it inside his jacket.
"Did he come alone?"
Rebecca shook her head.
"No."
"Who is with him?"
"Two officers from headquarters."
Jonathan nodded.
"Thank you."
He walked toward the lobby.
But before reaching the door, Rebecca spoke again.
"Chief?"
He stopped.
She looked down the corridor, making sure nobody else was nearby.
"I found something else in the system."
"What?"
She swallowed.
"The booking request against you was entered before Officer Miller approached you."
Jonathan's expression changed.
"How long before?"
"Forty-three minutes."
He stared at her.
"Are you certain?"
Rebecca nodded.
"I checked the timestamp twice."
Jonathan felt a cold weight settle in his chest.
The arrest had not been an impulsive mistake.
It had been arranged.
Someone had entered the booking request before the officer had even encountered him.
"Who submitted it?"
Rebecca looked at him.
"That's the problem."
She handed him a printed copy.
The request had been submitted using a departmental administrator's credentials.
But the authorization field contained a name.
JONATHAN MICHAEL HAYES.
His own name.
Someone had forged his authorization.
Jonathan looked toward the lobby.
Deputy Commissioner Vance was waiting there.
And suddenly, the reason for his visit became very clear.