Captain Reynolds accompanied Reeves and two evidence specialists.
They entered through the staff corridor.
The hallway was narrow.
Gray metal doors lined both sides.
A few maintenance workers were moving equipment near the far entrance.
Reynolds showed the authorization to the station supervisor.
"We need access to the storage area."
The supervisor nodded.
He unlocked the door.
Inside was a small room containing electrical supplies, cleaning equipment, spare cables, and several metal cabinets.
At first glance, nothing appeared unusual.
One investigator began photographing the room.
Another examined the cabinets.
Reeves looked toward the back wall.
There was a narrow metal storage box partially hidden behind a stack of maintenance containers.
He pointed toward it.
"Captain."
Reynolds approached.
"Is that the box?"
"Possibly."
They photographed its position.
Then the evidence team documented the lock and obtained the appropriate authorization to open it.
Inside were several envelopes.
Some were brown.
Others were white.
Each carried a handwritten reference number.
Reeves examined the first.
Then the second.
He recognized one immediately.
HB-94.
Harold Bennett.
The next envelope carried another reference.
EB-94.
Eleanor Brooks.
Then another.
WH-94.
Walter Harrison.
Reynolds stared at the labels.
"These are the pension packages."
Reeves nodded.
The evidence specialists carefully removed the envelopes.
They photographed each one before placing it into separate evidence containers.
Several were empty.
Others contained receipts and documentation.
One contained a partial stack of banknotes.
Another had a handwritten note attached.
The note contained a series of numbers and initials.
Reeves examined it.
"Captain, we need to preserve this exactly as it is."
Reynolds nodded.
"Document everything."
One of the investigators opened another compartment.
Inside was a small notebook.
Its pages contained dates, names, and amounts.
Reeves turned the first few pages.
Then he stopped.
The notebook listed pension distribution dates.
Beside each date were beneficiary names.
Some entries included the amount collected.
Others contained initials corresponding to the officers' names.
Reynolds looked at the document.
"This is significant."
Reeves nodded.
He turned another page.
A name appeared repeatedly.
D. VANCE.
Beneath it were several amounts.
Another name appeared beside some entries.
M. REED.
The investigators exchanged looks.
The notebook was not proof by itself of what every transaction represented.
But it provided a new direction for the investigation.
Reynolds immediately contacted the financial crimes team.
"Notify them that we've located multiple pension envelopes and a handwritten ledger. We need the appropriate forensic examination."
Reeves continued photographing the pages.
Then he discovered a small folded document inside the notebook's back cover.
He carefully removed it.
It was a printed schedule.
The heading read:
PENSION DISTRIBUTION - WEEKLY COLLECTION LIST.
Below it were several names.
Walter Harrison.
Harold Bennett.
Eleanor Brooks.
And several others.
The document contained collection dates and estimated payment amounts.
Reeves stared at it.
"Captain, this explains how they knew who was carrying the money."
Reynolds looked at the document.
Then he slowly shook his head.
"Get this to the financial investigators immediately."
The evidence team continued working.
Within an hour, they had documented the entire room.
The envelopes were secured.
The notebook was photographed.
The handwritten schedule was preserved.
And the maintenance area was placed under restricted access pending further examination.
Meanwhile, at the central district station, Officer Marcus Reed arrived for his scheduled shift.
He entered through the staff entrance.
He greeted a colleague.
He placed his bag inside a locker.
Then he checked his duty assignment.
Everything appeared normal.
Until two investigators approached him.
"Officer Reed?"
He turned.
"Yes?"
"My name is Laura Bennett. We need to speak with you about an ongoing investigation."
Reed frowned.
"What investigation?"
"An investigation involving pension distribution incidents at several transit stations."
Reed's expression changed.
For a moment, he looked toward the corridor.
Then he looked back.
"I don't know anything about that."
Laura remained calm.
"We haven't asked you any specific questions yet."
Reed swallowed.
"Am I in trouble?"
"We would like to establish your involvement through a formal interview."
Reed looked toward his supervisor.
The supervisor had already been informed.
He nodded.
"Cooperate with the investigators."
Reed slowly followed them.
But as he walked down the corridor, he took one final glance toward the locker area.
Inside his personal locker was a small envelope.
And inside that envelope was a document that investigators had not yet discovered.
A document that could connect him directly to the missing pension payments.
He had less than an hour before someone would find it.
And he knew it.