When he saw Evelyn, he stopped.
For a brief second, neither of them spoke.
Then he walked toward her.
HARRIS: "Agent Carter."
EVELYN CARTER: "Lieutenant Harris."
HARRIS: "I wasn't told you were coming today."
EVELYN CARTER: "I know."
HARRIS: "Is there something I can help you with?"
EVELYN CARTER: "There are several things, actually."
Harris looked around the room.
He noticed the officers watching them and immediately lowered his voice.
HARRIS: "Perhaps we should discuss this in my office."
EVELYN CARTER: "That would be appropriate."
He gestured toward the hallway.
But before Evelyn followed him, she turned slightly toward Daniel.
EVELYN CARTER: "Officer Reed?"
Daniel straightened.
DANIEL REED: "Yes, ma'am?"
EVELYN CARTER: "Please make sure the visitor log for the last thirty days is preserved exactly as it is. Don't remove anything, don't correct anything, and don't make any changes to the electronic records."
Daniel nodded.
DANIEL REED: "Yes, Agent Carter."
EVELYN CARTER: "And please make sure no one accesses the original file concerning Marcus Bell until I have spoken with your lieutenant."
Harris turned sharply.
HARRIS: "Agent Carter, I think we should discuss the details privately."
EVELYN CARTER: "We will."
There was something in her tone that made it clear she was not asking permission.
She followed Harris down the hallway.
As they disappeared behind his office door, the room gradually returned to its usual activity.
But the atmosphere had changed.
Daniel sat down slowly.
He looked at the visitor log on his computer, then at the closed office door.
He had worked at the department long enough to know that internal investigations could become complicated. He had also heard stories about federal agents arriving unexpectedly, questioning officers, and requesting records.
But he had never witnessed anything quite like this.
What bothered him most was not the badge.
It was the fact that Lieutenant Harris had seemed genuinely surprised to see her.
If Harris had not known she was coming, why had Evelyn appeared so certain that someone inside the department was expecting her?
And why had she specifically mentioned a report that was supposedly no longer active?
Daniel glanced toward Robert Miller.
DANIEL REED: "Sir, do you know who she is?"
Miller continued organizing a stack of paperwork.
MILLER: "You heard her introduction."
DANIEL REED: "I mean, do you know her personally?"
Miller looked up.
MILLER: "I knew her a long time ago."
DANIEL REED: "Was she working here?"
MILLER: "Not exactly."
DANIEL REED: "What does that mean?"
Miller considered his answer.
MILLER: "It means that some people spend their entire careers trying to understand how this department works. Evelyn was one of the few people who understood how it was supposed to work."
Daniel frowned.
DANIEL REED: "Was she an investigator?"
MILLER: "She was more than that."
DANIEL REED: "More than that?"
Miller looked toward the lieutenant's office.
MILLER: "You'll understand soon enough."
Daniel wanted to ask another question, but Miller returned to his paperwork.
Meanwhile, inside the office, Evelyn placed her handbag beside a chair and remained standing.
Lieutenant Harris closed the door.
HARRIS: "I have to admit, your visit is unexpected."
EVELYN CARTER: "That was intentional."
HARRIS: "You could have called ahead."
EVELYN CARTER: "I could have."
HARRIS: "Then why didn't you?"
Evelyn slowly turned toward him.
EVELYN CARTER: "Because I wanted to see how this department operates when nobody knows an outside investigator is coming."
Harris crossed his arms.
HARRIS: "We've always cooperated with federal authorities."
EVELYN CARTER: "I'm sure you have."
HARRIS: "If there's an issue, I would appreciate knowing exactly what it concerns."
EVELYN CARTER: "Marcus Bell."
Harris remained silent.
EVELYN CARTER: "Three weeks ago, an arrest was made under circumstances that raised several serious questions. The initial report contained information that did not match the statements provided by two witnesses. The evidence inventory was incomplete, and the body camera footage appeared to have a gap."
HARRIS: "I know about the arrest."
EVELYN CARTER: "I expected you would."
HARRIS: "The matter was reviewed internally."
EVELYN CARTER: "And what was the result?"
HARRIS: "The review did not identify sufficient evidence of misconduct."
EVELYN CARTER: "Interesting."
HARRIS: "What exactly is interesting about that?"
EVELYN CARTER: "The fact that the review was closed before the missing footage was recovered."
Harris shifted his weight.
HARRIS: "There may have been technical issues."
EVELYN CARTER: "There were no technical issues."
HARRIS: "You can't know that without examining the equipment."
EVELYN CARTER: "We examined the equipment."
Harris looked at her.
For the first time during their conversation, his expression showed genuine concern.
EVELYN CARTER: "We also examined the access records, the original dispatch information, and the electronic communication between the officers involved."
HARRIS: "You have already conducted an investigation?"
EVELYN CARTER: "We have been conducting one for twenty-one days."
HARRIS: "And you're only telling me now?"
EVELYN CARTER: "I didn't need to tell you earlier."
The lieutenant walked toward his desk.
He picked up a glass of water but did not drink.
HARRIS: "Agent Carter, I understand your responsibilities, but this department has procedures. You cannot simply walk in and assume that every officer is involved in wrongdoing."
EVELYN CARTER: "I haven't assumed anything."
HARRIS: "Then what are you suggesting?"
EVELYN CARTER: "I'm suggesting that someone altered an official record, someone removed evidence, and someone made sure that the people responsible would not be questioned."