Daniel looked toward the door.
DANIEL PRICE: "This is getting closer."
Maya closed the folder.
MAYA BROOKS: "Yes. But we are not finished."
At that moment, the investigation officer returned.
He carried a new report from the system administrator.
INVESTIGATION OFFICER: "Colonel, we found something in the archive access history."
MAYA BROOKS: "What is it?"
INVESTIGATION OFFICER: "The original readiness evaluation was downloaded three days before your arrival."
Maya looked up.
MAYA BROOKS: "Which account?"
INVESTIGATION OFFICER: "Lieutenant Colonel Mercer's."
MAYA BROOKS: "From which workstation?"
The officer hesitated.
INVESTIGATION OFFICER: "A terminal in Major Calloway's office."
Maya stood.
The information connected the former evaluation officer's credentials to a workstation controlled by the major who had approved the altered maintenance reports.
But the most troubling detail came next.
INVESTIGATION OFFICER: "Colonel, the file wasn't simply downloaded."
MAYA BROOKS: "Explain."
INVESTIGATION OFFICER: "A second version was created immediately afterward."
Maya looked at him.
MAYA BROOKS: "What was different?"
The officer placed the comparison report on the table.
INVESTIGATION OFFICER: "The second version removed the names of the technicians who originally reported the unresolved discrepancies."
Daniel stared at the document.
DANIEL PRICE: "Why would someone remove their names?"
Maya examined the report.
The names had been replaced with generic department references.
The original entries identified the people who had discovered the problems.
The revised version made it appear that the discrepancies had been identified and resolved through routine administrative review.
Maya understood the significance.
If the technicians' names disappeared, it would become harder to establish who had originally reported the issues and whether their concerns had been ignored.
The change could also make the final report appear more consistent.
She turned toward the investigation officer.
MAYA BROOKS: "Who authorized the second version?"
INVESTIGATION OFFICER: "We haven't found an approval entry."
MAYA BROOKS: "Then determine who created it."
The officer nodded.
Before he could leave, his radio sounded.
He listened for several seconds.
His expression changed.
INVESTIGATION OFFICER: "Colonel, security has located an additional storage device in the administrative office."
MAYA BROOKS: "What kind of device?"
INVESTIGATION OFFICER: "An encrypted external drive."
MAYA BROOKS: "Who was responsible for the office?"
INVESTIGATION OFFICER: "Major Calloway."
Maya looked toward Daniel.
The investigation had reached another critical point.
The drive might contain routine administrative backups.
Or it might contain the original records that had been removed from the official system.
She instructed the team to secure the device without altering its contents.
A qualified digital forensic specialist would examine it under the proper evidence procedures.
Several hours later, the specialist completed the initial inventory.
The drive contained multiple folders.
Some were ordinary administrative backups.
Others contained copies of maintenance reports.
One folder was labeled READINESS REVIEW.
Inside were spreadsheets, correspondence, and draft evaluations.
The specialist identified several files that matched the documents recovered from the restricted archive.
But there was also a folder that had not appeared in the official system.
Its name was PRIVATE APPROVALS.
Maya requested that the contents be examined.
The folder contained scanned documents with handwritten signatures.
Several appeared to be approval sheets for maintenance classification changes.
The dates matched the period before the readiness evaluation.
One document contained the aircraft identification number associated with Samuel Bennett's original inspection.
Beside the number was a note stating that the discrepancy should be classified as resolved for reporting purposes.
The note carried Victor Hayes's initials.
Below it was an approval signature from Major Calloway.
And at the bottom of the page was another signature.
Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Mercer.
Maya stared at the document.
The three levels of responsibility were now visible on the same page.
She asked the forensic specialist to authenticate the file and determine when it had been created.
The specialist checked the metadata.
The document had been scanned two days before the final readiness report was submitted.
Maya looked toward the investigation officer.
MAYA BROOKS: "This document needs to be compared with the original inspection record and the final certification."
INVESTIGATION OFFICER: "Yes, Colonel."
MAYA BROOKS: "And I want every signature verified."
The officer nodded.
Daniel looked at the page.
DANIEL PRICE: "Colonel, this could explain why the reports were changed."
Maya remained serious.
MAYA BROOKS: "It may explain the approval chain. We still need to establish whether the officers knew the required inspections had not been completed."
Daniel nodded.
Then he noticed another file in the folder.
It contained a list of names.
Several belonged to technicians who had submitted complaints.
Beside each name was a short administrative note.
Some entries referred to reassignment recommendations.
Others mentioned performance reviews.
Maya examined the list.
The names matched the personnel Daniel had identified earlier.
She asked the specialist to preserve the file and compare its dates with the staffing changes.
The preliminary results showed that several personnel decisions had occurred shortly after complaints were submitted.
The evidence did not prove that every decision was retaliatory.
But the pattern was concerning.
Maya requested a separate personnel review.
She wanted each transfer and performance decision examined individually.
No one would be punished simply because they had raised a safety concern.