Silence.
Finally, Price said, “I'll be there in twenty minutes.”
Lawson ended the call.
He contacted the legal liaison again and reported the conversation.
Then he sent Victoria a message through the official channel.
A potentially relevant document has been delivered to my office. I have preserved it. Please arrange collection through your team.
Victoria received the message while reviewing the evidence logs.
She read it, then looked toward Daniel Cho.
“We may have a new lead.”
She did not know what the document proved.
She did not know whether Price had written the note.
She did not know who had delivered the envelope.
But someone had decided that Lawson should stop cooperating.
And that person had chosen to send a warning on the same day the federal team began examining the missing evidence.
Victoria stood.
“Daniel, keep the forensic work moving. I need to review the preservation procedure for the new document.”
“Understood.”
She picked up her jacket.
Outside, rain began tapping against the windows.
The investigation had started with a badge thrown onto a desk.
Now it was reaching into the department's administrative structure, its evidence systems, and the relationships that had kept those systems running.
Victoria knew that the next step could expose the person responsible.
It could also reveal that the person she was looking for had been standing much closer to the director than anyone had suspected.
Chapter 7: A Meeting After Hours
Deputy Director Samuel Price arrived at Lawson's office at 7:18 p.m.
He carried no briefcase and wore no tie. His expression was controlled, but his eyes moved immediately toward the envelope on the desk.
Lawson noticed.
“You recognize it?”
Price took a seat.
“I recognize the document inside.”
“Did you write the note?”
Price picked up the photocopy and studied it.
“I may have written something similar.”
“That's not an answer.”
“It was a preliminary recommendation, not an instruction to interfere with an investigation.”
“Why was the audit delayed until after contract approval?”
“The audit was not ready.”
“The note says otherwise.”
Price placed the paper down.
“Richard, you know how these things work. If we had launched a major audit in the middle of contract negotiations, the department could have lost access to essential services. I was trying to avoid a disruption.”
“Did you tell me that?”
“I briefed you on the scheduling concerns.”
“You told me the review needed more documentation. You did not tell me that the contract approval was a factor.”
Price leaned back.
“Perhaps I should have been more explicit.”
Lawson stared at him.
“Did you know the evidence locker had a missing item?”
“I heard there was a discrepancy.”
“When?”
“Several weeks ago.”
“Who told you?”
“Detective Mercer.”
“What did you do?”
“I asked him to document it.”
“Did you follow up?”
“I believed the matter was being handled.”
“By whom?”
Price's jaw tightened.
“I don't recall.”
Lawson pushed the photograph of the missing evidence record across the desk.
“Your administrative account appears in the closure history.”
Price glanced at it.
“The account was used by my office. That doesn't mean I personally changed the record.”
“Did you authorize the closure?”
“I don't remember authorizing that specific file.”
“Did you ask anyone to close evidence cases before the audit?”
“No.”
Lawson waited.
Price sighed.
“Richard, if you believe I've done something wrong, you should refer it to the investigators. I won't sit here and guess about old system entries.”
“I have referred the document.”
“Then you have your answer.”
“No. I have a document, a missing evidence item, and an administrative record that points to your office.”
Price stood.
“You're letting the federal team turn a technical problem into a personal accusation.”
Lawson rose as well.
“I'm letting the evidence be examined.”
Price moved toward the door.
“Be careful. If you allow this to spread without proof, you could destroy careers and damage the department.”
Lawson's voice was firm.
“If the records are accurate, the investigation will establish that. If they are not, we will establish that too.”
Price opened the door.
Before leaving, he turned back.
“Do you trust Agent Hayes?”
Lawson did not answer immediately.
“I trust the process we have agreed to follow.”
Price's expression hardened.
“That isn't what I asked.”
“It's the answer you're getting.”
Price left.
Lawson remained standing for several seconds.
Then he called the legal liaison and documented the meeting.
He did not accuse Price of a crime.
He did not attempt to investigate the deputy director privately.
He recorded what had been said and preserved the information for the people responsible for examining it.
When Victoria arrived forty minutes later, Lawson gave her the envelope.
She reviewed the document without touching the original until the forensic specialist had photographed and logged it.
“Did Price admit writing the note?” she asked.
“He said he may have written something similar.”
“Did he explain the audit delay?”
“He said the department needed to avoid disrupting the contract negotiations.”
“Did he acknowledge knowing about the missing evidence?”
“He said Detective Mercer had told him about a discrepancy.”
Victoria looked up.
“When?”
“He couldn't give me a date.”
She nodded.
“Thank you for documenting the conversation.”
Lawson looked exhausted.
“Agent Hayes, I need to ask you something.”
“Go ahead.”
“If Price is involved, how far does this go?”