The image of Graham Voss handing the brown envelope to Officer Blake Turner continued to occupy his thoughts. He had watched the footage several times, hoping that another angle might provide an innocent explanation. Perhaps Voss had simply been collecting documents for an administrative review. Perhaps Blake had been instructed to deliver something to another department.
But the photograph of Adrian attached to the folded paper made that possibility increasingly difficult to accept.
Someone had been discussing his arrival before he reached the building.
Someone had known what he would be wearing.
And someone had apparently wanted Blake Turner to recognize him.
Adrian stood and walked toward the office window. From there, he could see the main entrance and the stone plaza where the confrontation had taken place. A few employees were still gathered near the security checkpoint, speaking quietly.
He remembered the look on Blake's face when Simone had identified him.
The officer had not looked surprised merely because he had attacked a senior commander. His expression had suggested that something had gone terribly wrong with a plan he had expected to work.
That distinction mattered.
ADRIAN COLE: "Aaron, did you manage to find the earlier visits from Iris Whitcomb?"
AARON BELL: "I'm still searching, sir. Some of the older recordings have already been archived."
ADRIAN COLE: "How far back can you access them?"
AARON BELL: "The current system keeps routine footage for ninety days. Anything older depends on whether someone requested preservation."
ADRIAN COLE: "And if someone requested preservation, where would those files be?"
AARON BELL: "Usually in the administrative evidence repository. Access is restricted."
Adrian turned toward him.
ADRIAN COLE: "Restricted to whom?"
AARON BELL: "The internal administration office and a small number of senior supervisors."
Adrian already knew which office Aaron meant.
Graham Voss controlled much of the department's administrative process. He had authority over internal records, personnel reviews, and several complaint-handling procedures.
That meant the person who might be connected to the missing evidence also had influence over where the evidence was stored.
ADRIAN COLE: "Can you confirm whether Iris's visits were ever placed under a preservation request?"
AARON BELL: "I'll check the archive index."
Aaron entered several search terms.
A list of records appeared on the monitor.
He scrolled through the results, stopped, and leaned closer to the screen.
AARON BELL: "Commander, I found something."
ADRIAN COLE: "What is it?"
AARON BELL: "There are multiple entries under Iris Whitcomb's name. The first one is from almost eight months ago."
Adrian moved beside him.
The first entry contained a date, a visitor identification number, and a short description.
VISITOR PURPOSE: SUBMISSION OF DOCUMENTS RELATING TO POLICE MISCONDUCT.
The second entry appeared six weeks later.
VISITOR PURPOSE: REQUEST FOR MEETING WITH INTERNAL REVIEW SUPERVISOR.
The third entry contained a different description.
VISITOR PURPOSE: FOLLOW-UP REGARDING PREVIOUS COMPLAINT. DOCUMENTS NOT ACCEPTED.
Adrian read the entries carefully.
ADRIAN COLE: "Why were the documents not accepted?"
AARON BELL: "There's no explanation in the visitor record."
ADRIAN COLE: "Was she given a receipt?"
AARON BELL: "I can't see one."
ADRIAN COLE: "Was she directed to another office?"
Aaron continued scrolling.
AARON BELL: "There's a note here. It says she was instructed to contact the administrative office."
ADRIAN COLE: "Who entered that note?"
Aaron clicked the record details.
A username appeared.
ADMIN-VOSS-02.
Adrian looked at the screen without speaking.
It was not proof that Voss had personally rejected the documents. The username could have been used by an administrative employee. But the entry established that the matter had passed through an office under his authority.
ADRIAN COLE: "Export the record details and preserve the original metadata."
AARON BELL: "Yes, sir."
ADRIAN COLE: "Don't edit anything. I want the records exactly as they exist."
Aaron began the export.
A few moments later, the surveillance office door opened.
Sergeant Daniel Kim entered, carrying a small notebook.
SERGEANT DANIEL KIM: "Commander, I've completed the initial incident report from outside."
ADRIAN COLE: "Thank you. What did you find?"
SERGEANT DANIEL KIM: "We have three civilian witnesses who are willing to provide statements. One of them recorded part of the confrontation on a mobile phone."
ADRIAN COLE: "Did you obtain the recording?"
SERGEANT DANIEL KIM: "Not yet. The witness agreed to provide a copy, but I told her she could submit it through the official evidence process."
ADRIAN COLE: "Good. Make sure she receives a receipt confirming the submission."
Daniel nodded.
SERGEANT DANIEL KIM: "There is something else, sir."
ADRIAN COLE: "Go ahead."
SERGEANT DANIEL KIM: "Officer Turner has been removed from the exterior security assignment pending review. Lieutenant Samuel Price has been notified."
Adrian recognized the name.
Lieutenant Samuel Price supervised Blake's patrol unit. He was responsible for scheduling, performance reviews, and several daily operational matters.
ADRIAN COLE: "Where is Lieutenant Price now?"
SERGEANT DANIEL KIM: "He is in his office. He asked whether he could speak with you."
ADRIAN COLE: "Tell him I will meet with him shortly."
Daniel hesitated.
SERGEANT DANIEL KIM: "Commander, he also asked whether this incident would be handled internally."
Adrian looked at him.
ADRIAN COLE: "What did you tell him?"