Daniel gestured toward the chair.
“Sit down.”
Dalton remained standing.
“I'm asking you to suspend this investigation until we can conduct an internal review.”
Daniel looked at him.
“You're asking me to let the department investigate itself.”
“That's standard procedure.”
“Not when the department is the subject of the investigation.”
Dalton's expression changed.
“You need to understand something. This city depends on this department.”
“And the department depends on public trust.”
Dalton leaned forward.
“You don't know what you're walking into.”
Daniel stood.
“Then explain it.”
Dalton stared at him for several seconds.
Then he quietly said:
“Some of these officers have powerful friends.”
Daniel replied:
“So do I.”
Dalton left without another word.
But before the door closed, Daniel noticed something in his hand.
A document with the name of an oversight investigator.
And beside it, a handwritten note:
REMOVE BEFORE REVIEW.
CHAPTER 11 — THE INVESTIGATOR WHO VANISHED
Daniel immediately called his chief investigator, Monica Reed.
“Find the person named on Dalton's document.”
Monica searched the personnel database.
“Sir, that's Investigator Samuel Price.”
“Where is he?”
“Officially, he's on medical leave.”
“Since when?”
“Eleven months ago.”
Daniel frowned.
“Has anyone spoken to him?”
“His supervisor claims he resigned.”
“Which supervisor?”
Monica paused.
“Lieutenant Cole.”
Daniel leaned back.
“Find his last known address.”
Two hours later, Monica called again.
“Sir, Price's apartment was emptied six months ago. His neighbors say he left after receiving several threats.”
“Any forwarding address?”
“No. But I found something else.”
“What?”
“His final investigative report was deleted from the department's archive.”
Daniel closed his eyes briefly.
“Recover it.”
Monica worked through the night.
At 3:18 a.m., she found a backup copy.
The report contained a list of officers suspected of destroying complaint records.
At the bottom was a handwritten note:
THE ORDERS COME FROM ABOVE DALTON.
Daniel stared at the words.
Someone had been warning them long before he arrived.
CHAPTER 12 — A CALL FROM SAMUEL PRICE
The next afternoon, Daniel received a call from an unknown number.
“Deputy Director Hayes?”
“Yes.”
“My name is Samuel Price.”
Daniel stood immediately.
“Where are you?”
“Somewhere I can talk safely.”
“Are you in danger?”
“I don't know anymore.”
Price explained that he had discovered a hidden system used to track citizens who filed complaints against transit police officers.
The system contained names, addresses, employment information, and personal details.
People who filed repeated complaints were flagged.
Some received surprise inspections at their workplaces.
Others were repeatedly stopped by patrol officers.
One woman had been arrested after reporting an officer for taking her phone.
“Who maintained the system?” Daniel asked.
“Lieutenant Cole created the local records. Dalton authorized access.”
“And who gave Dalton the authority?”
Price hesitated.
“That's what I never managed to prove.”
Daniel lowered his voice.
“Do you have evidence?”
“I have a copy of the database.”
“Bring it to my office.”
“No.”
“Samuel—”
“I saw what happened to the last person who tried to cooperate.”
Daniel remained silent.
Price continued.
“Meet me tomorrow. Alone.”
The call ended.
Daniel immediately contacted Monica.
“Locate Samuel Price. Quietly.”
CHAPTER 13 — THE EMPTY PARKING GARAGE
Daniel arrived at the designated parking garage at 8:00 p.m.
He carried no department equipment and brought only his personal phone.
A message arrived.
LEVEL THREE. SPACE 118.
Daniel walked through the garage.
A gray sedan stood in the assigned space.
Its driver's door was open.
Inside was an envelope.
Daniel examined it.
There were printed screenshots from the complaint-tracking system, several photographs of officers, and a list of names.
One photograph showed Frank Dalton entering a private building.
Another showed Lieutenant Cole meeting with a civilian.
The civilian's face had been circled.
Daniel recognized him.
Mayor's Chief of Staff, Richard Palmer.
A voice came from behind him.
“Don't turn around.”
Daniel stopped.
“Samuel?”
“Yes.”
“Where are you?”
“Not here.”
Daniel looked at the envelope.
“Why send me this?”
“Because I couldn't trust anyone else.”
“Where's the database?”