"Chief, Captain Harris isn't in today."
Jonathan looked at him.
"Then call the deputy captain."
"He's attending a meeting."
"Then interrupt it."
Whitmore shifted uncomfortably.
"Sir, perhaps we should establish what happened before bringing in senior command."
Jonathan studied him.
"That's an interesting suggestion."
He took a step closer.
"Tell me something, Sergeant. Why are you so concerned about who gets called?"
Whitmore forced a smile.
"I'm not, sir."
"Good."
Jonathan looked toward Rebecca.
"Call Internal Affairs. I want an investigator here immediately. I also want the booking request preserved, the lobby surveillance secured, and every available recording from the officers involved placed under evidence hold."
Rebecca nodded.
"Understood, Chief."
"Nobody deletes anything. Nobody edits anything. Nobody removes a document from this room."
Jonathan turned toward Whitmore.
"That includes you."
Whitmore's smile disappeared.
"Of course, sir."
But his eyes had already moved toward the administrative corridor.
Jonathan noticed.
So did Rebecca.
2. A NAME ON THE SCREEN
Five minutes later, the lobby was quieter.
Rebecca had contacted Internal Affairs.
Officer Miller had been instructed to remain at the front desk.
Whitmore stood near the entrance to the administrative hallway, repeatedly checking his phone.
Jonathan sat at a small table, examining the documents from his briefcase.
A few officers approached him.
"Chief Hayes?"
He looked up.
"Yes?"
"Sir, I just wanted to say—"
"Don't."
The officer stopped.
Jonathan closed the folder.
"I don't need apologies from people who are afraid of getting in trouble. I need officers who understand their responsibilities when nobody is watching."
The officer nodded and walked away.
Jonathan returned his attention to the papers.
There were three folders.
One contained the department's latest staffing report.
Another contained a list of complaints filed by civilians over the previous six months.
The third was marked:
CONFIDENTIAL — 24TH PRECINCT ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW.
Jonathan opened it.
The first page contained a list of names.
The second contained dates.
The third contained several complaints that had supposedly been closed.
He recognized one name immediately.
MARTIN ELLIS.
A retired mechanic who had filed a complaint against Sergeant Whitmore after an incident outside a neighborhood grocery store.
The official record said Ellis had withdrawn his complaint voluntarily.
Jonathan remembered meeting the man.
Ellis had insisted he never withdrew anything.
He had even brought a copy of his original statement to the department.
Yet the case had disappeared from the system.
Jonathan turned another page.
There were more names.
Three complaints marked withdrawn.
Two body-camera recordings marked corrupted.
One civilian witness arrested less than forty-eight hours after submitting a formal statement.
Jonathan slowly closed the folder.
He looked toward Whitmore.
The sergeant was no longer checking his phone.
He was watching Jonathan.
Their eyes met.
Whitmore looked away first.
Jonathan stood.
"Sergeant."
Whitmore straightened.
"Yes, Chief?"
"How long have you been assigned to the 24th Precinct?"
"Fourteen years."
"And how many complaints have been filed against you?"
Whitmore stiffened.
"I couldn't give you an exact number."
"Three?"
"Sir?"