HELEN CARTER: "We can discuss appropriate witness safety measures. You should not have to handle this alone."
Iris nodded.
The meeting continued until Helen had documented the materials and issued a formal evidence receipt.
Before Iris left, Adrian stood beside the conference room door.
ADRIAN COLE: "Thank you for coming forward."
IRIS WHITCOMB: "I hope I haven't made things worse."
ADRIAN COLE: "You have given us information we need to examine. That is not making things worse."
Iris looked at him for a long moment.
IRIS WHITCOMB: "My son used to believe that the police would help people like us. I don't know when he stopped believing that."
Adrian had no easy answer.
He watched as Helen escorted Iris toward the reception area.
The elderly woman had spent eight months trying to get someone to listen.
Now the independent review team had her evidence, but the department still had many questions to answer.
Adrian returned to his office.
He had just sat down when his phone rang.
The caller's name appeared on the screen.
Graham Voss.
For several seconds, Adrian simply stared at it.
Then he answered.
ADRIAN COLE: "Graham."
GRAHAM VOSS: "Adrian. I was wondering when we'd finally get a chance to speak."
Voss's voice sounded warm and familiar.
It was the same voice Adrian remembered from years of meetings, late-night calls, and difficult decisions.
GRAHAM VOSS: "I heard about your first morning. Quite an introduction, apparently."
ADRIAN COLE: "It was certainly unexpected."
GRAHAM VOSS: "Blake Turner has always been a little rough around the edges. I'm sure the incident can be handled without turning it into something bigger than it needs to be."
Adrian looked toward the documents on his desk.
ADRIAN COLE: "The incident will be reviewed according to policy."
GRAHAM VOSS: "Of course. That's what I expected you'd say."
There was a short pause.
GRAHAM VOSS: "I also heard you've been asking questions about some older complaint records."
ADRIAN COLE: "That's correct."
GRAHAM VOSS: "Adrian, I hope you understand that administrative files can be complicated. Some complaints were never supported by evidence. Others were resolved through informal discussions. You don't want to spend your first week reopening every disagreement that happened under the previous administration."
ADRIAN COLE: "I don't intend to reopen matters without a reason."
GRAHAM VOSS: "Good. Because there's a lot on your plate. The department needs stability."
ADRIAN COLE: "Stability depends on accountability."
Voss gave a small laugh.
GRAHAM VOSS: "You always did have a way of making simple things sound complicated."
Adrian remained silent.
GRAHAM VOSS: "Listen, why don't we sit down tomorrow morning? I'll walk you through the administrative files and explain how things have been handled. There are details you won't find in the computer system."
ADRIAN COLE: "If there are relevant details, they should be documented."
GRAHAM VOSS: "Not everything can be reduced to paperwork."
ADRIAN COLE: "Anything involving a complaint or disciplinary decision must have an accountable record."
The warmth in Voss's voice began to fade.
GRAHAM VOSS: "I understand your position. But you need to be careful not to undermine the people who have kept this department running."
ADRIAN COLE: "I am not interested in undermining anyone. I am interested in finding out whether the department has followed its own procedures."
GRAHAM VOSS: "Then let's discuss it privately."
ADRIAN COLE: "Any formal discussion about the investigation will take place through the independent review process."
There was a longer silence.
GRAHAM VOSS: "Independent review? Is that really necessary?"
ADRIAN COLE: "Yes."
GRAHAM VOSS: "You haven't even been here for a full day, Adrian."
ADRIAN COLE: "And already, I have found records that require independent examination."
Voss exhaled.
GRAHAM VOSS: "I hope you know what you're doing."
ADRIAN COLE: "I do."
GRAHAM VOSS: "We'll talk again."
The call ended.
Adrian placed the phone on the desk.
He did not know whether Voss had called because he was concerned about the incident outside or because he had learned that Iris had returned with her documents.
But one thing was clear.
The deputy chief already knew that Adrian was examining the complaint records.
And he was trying to persuade him to handle the matter privately.
At 5:20 p.m., Helen Carter returned to the office.
HELEN CARTER: "Commander, we have completed the initial intake."
ADRIAN COLE: "What do you think?"
HELEN CARTER: "I think the documents warrant a full review. But we need to verify the forty-nine cases individually."
ADRIAN COLE: "Have you identified the original files?"
HELEN CARTER: "We found references to several of them. Some appear to have been transferred to the administrative archive."
ADRIAN COLE: "Can you access that archive?"
HELEN CARTER: "Not yet. We have submitted a formal request for access and preservation."
ADRIAN COLE: "Good."
Helen placed a document on his desk.
HELEN CARTER: "There is something else. Iris mentioned that she had a separate list of people who were contacted after submitting complaints."
ADRIAN COLE: "What kind of contact?"
HELEN CARTER: "Some received phone calls telling them their complaints had been reviewed. Others were told that further contact would not change the outcome."