HARRIS: "I don't know. That's why I wrote his name down."
EVELYN CARTER: "What made you suspicious?"
HARRIS: "He once reported that a visitor had delivered a sealed envelope to the administrative office. Two days later, the envelope disappeared from the visitor records."
Evelyn thought about Daniel.
The young officer had appeared nervous when she showed him her badge, but there had been nothing unusual about his behavior.
He seemed inexperienced rather than dishonest.
EVELYN CARTER: "Have you questioned him?"
HARRIS: "No."
EVELYN CARTER: "Why not?"
HARRIS: "Because I didn't want him to become involved without knowing what was happening."
EVELYN CARTER: "You may not have a choice anymore."
Outside the office, Daniel was beginning to feel increasingly uncomfortable.
The stranger named David Mitchell had passed him without saying another word.
However, just before reaching the exit, he had stopped and turned around.
DAVID: "Officer Reed?"
Daniel stood up.
DANIEL REED: "Yes, sir?"
DAVID: "You've been working here for a while, haven't you?"
DANIEL REED: "Almost four years."
DAVID: "Good. I always appreciate young officers who take their responsibilities seriously."
DANIEL REED: "Thank you, sir."
DAVID: "I hope you haven't been having any difficulties today."
Daniel hesitated.
DANIEL REED: "No, sir."
DAVID: "Excellent."
David smiled.
DAVID: "Sometimes people from outside the department arrive with questions. They can make ordinary situations seem much more complicated than they really are."
Daniel did not know how to respond.
DAVID: "You understand what I mean?"
DANIEL REED: "I suppose so."
DAVID: "Good. Keep doing your job, and don't let yourself get distracted."
Then David walked away.
Daniel watched him leave.
Robert Miller approached the counter.
MILLER: "What did he want?"
DANIEL REED: "Nothing important."
MILLER: "What did he say?"
DANIEL REED: "He just asked how long I'd been working here."
Miller frowned.
MILLER: "That's all?"
DANIEL REED: "Yes."
Miller looked toward the exit.
MILLER: "Strange."
DANIEL REED: "Why?"
MILLER: "Because David Mitchell doesn't usually ask questions unless he already knows the answers."
Daniel looked confused.
Before he could ask anything else, the office door opened.
Evelyn stepped out.
She was carrying the notebook and her folder.
EVELYN CARTER: "Officer Reed, I need to speak with you."
Daniel immediately stood.
DANIEL REED: "Of course, Agent Carter."
EVELYN CARTER: "Would you come with me, please?"
Daniel glanced toward Miller.
The older officer gave him a small nod.
MILLER: "Just answer her questions honestly."
Daniel followed Evelyn into the office.
Lieutenant Harris was standing near his desk.
He looked uncomfortable.
EVELYN CARTER: "Please take a seat, Officer."
Daniel sat down.
DANIEL REED: "Is something wrong?"
EVELYN CARTER: "I hope not. I need to ask you about an incident involving a sealed envelope."
Daniel looked toward Harris.
HARRIS: "Just answer the questions."
DANIEL REED: "What envelope?"
EVELYN CARTER: "An envelope delivered to the administrative office approximately seven months ago."
Daniel thought for a moment.
Then his expression changed.
DANIEL REED: "I remember something like that."
EVELYN CARTER: "Tell me what happened."
DANIEL REED: "A courier came in during the afternoon. He said he had a delivery for Mr. Mitchell's office. I asked him to sign the visitor log, and he left the envelope with me."
EVELYN CARTER: "Did you open it?"
DANIEL REED: "No."
EVELYN CARTER: "Did you record the delivery?"
DANIEL REED: "Yes."
EVELYN CARTER: "What happened afterward?"
Daniel hesitated.
DANIEL REED: "A supervisor came downstairs and collected it."
EVELYN CARTER: "Which supervisor?"
DANIEL REED: "I don't remember his name."
HARRIS: "Was it someone you recognized?"
DANIEL REED: "I think so. He was wearing a uniform."
EVELYN CARTER: "Did he identify himself?"
DANIEL REED: "Not exactly."
EVELYN CARTER: "What do you mean?"
DANIEL REED: "He said Mr. Mitchell had asked him to collect the envelope. I didn't think anything of it."
Evelyn wrote something in her notebook.
EVELYN CARTER: "Did you sign anything?"
DANIEL REED: "No."
EVELYN CARTER: "Did he sign anything?"
DANIEL REED: "No. I remember asking him to sign the delivery log, but he said it wasn't necessary because the envelope was internal correspondence."
Harris looked down.
Evelyn continued.
EVELYN CARTER: "Did you report that?"
DANIEL REED: "Yes. I told Officer Miller because I thought the procedure was unusual."
EVELYN CARTER: "And what did he say?"
DANIEL REED: "He told me not to worry about it."
Miller, standing outside the office, heard his name through the open door.
He entered.
MILLER: "I remember that conversation."
EVELYN CARTER: "Why didn't you include it in the official report?"
MILLER: "Because Daniel didn't know what was inside the envelope, and I didn't want to create a problem over something that might have been ordinary administrative correspondence."
EVELYN CARTER: "Did you see the envelope?"
MILLER: "Yes."
EVELYN CARTER: "Did you recognize the handwriting?"
Miller looked surprised.
MILLER: "No. Why?"
Evelyn took a document from her folder.
She placed it beside the photograph.
EVELYN CARTER: "Because the envelope delivered seven months ago had the same handwriting as the note attached to this photograph."
Miller leaned forward.
He examined the writing.
His expression changed.
MILLER: "I know that handwriting."
Harris immediately looked at him.
HARRIS: "You do?"
MILLER: "I've seen it before."
EVELYN CARTER: "Where?"
Miller looked toward the hallway.
Then he slowly turned back.
MILLER: "On reports signed by Deputy Commissioner Lawson."
Evelyn remained silent.
MILLER: "But that doesn't make sense. Lawson had already left by the time the envelope arrived."
EVELYN CARTER: "Exactly."
Daniel stared at the documents.