Eleanor returned to headquarters immediately.
The building was unusually quiet when she entered. Most administrative employees had left for the evening, and only a few patrol officers remained near the briefing room.
Maria was waiting outside the records office.
"Chief, I checked the system logs," she said. "The account accessed the archive at 4:42 p.m."
"Whose account?"
"Captain Shaw's."
Eleanor's expression did not change.
"Did he access specific files?"
"Yes. The Mercer complaint records, the old internal review, and the transfer memorandum involving David Price."
"Did he download anything?"
"The system shows several document previews, but I can't confirm whether anything was exported."
"Has the access been preserved?"
"I took screenshots of the log and submitted a preservation request."
"Good. Don't confront him. We need to maintain the integrity of the evidence."
Maria nodded.
They entered the records office.
Eleanor asked the system administrator to produce a full access history covering the previous thirty days. She also requested that all relevant records be copied to a secure evidence repository under the control of an independent oversight team.
The administrator began working.
Then Maria noticed something unusual.
"Chief, look at this."
She pointed to a file entry.
A folder containing historical complaint records had been marked for deletion.
The deletion request had been submitted at 4:51 p.m.
"Who authorized it?" Eleanor asked.
Maria opened the details.
The request was associated with an administrative account linked to the office of the deputy commissioner.
"But Collins retired eighteen months ago," Maria said.
"Who currently manages that account?"
"I'll check."
The system administrator interrupted.
"Chief, I need to tell you something. The deletion request hasn't completed yet, but the account has attempted to change the retention settings."
Eleanor turned toward him.
"Can you stop it?"
"I can suspend the scheduled deletion and preserve the system state. But I need formal authorization."
"You have it. Record every action and notify the independent oversight team."
The administrator began the process.
For several minutes, the only sounds in the room were keyboard clicks and the hum of the computers.
Then the system displayed a warning.
PERMISSION CONFLICT.
The administrator frowned.
"Someone has higher-level access."
Eleanor leaned toward the screen.
"Can you identify the account?"
The administrator checked.
"Executive administration."
Maria's face changed.
"That's the account assigned to Deputy Commissioner Collins."
"Is it still active?" Eleanor asked.
"According to the system, yes."
Eleanor straightened.
"Freeze the affected records through the external evidence administrator. Do not attempt to override the account locally."
The administrator nodded.
As they waited for confirmation, Eleanor received a call from Captain Shaw.
She answered.
"Chief Hayes."
"Where are you?"
"At headquarters."
"I heard there was a problem with the archive."
"What problem?"
"Some old files are being accessed without proper authorization."
Eleanor looked at Maria.
"Which files?"
"Historical personnel and complaint records. These materials are sensitive."
"Are you concerned that someone is deleting them?"
There was a pause.
"Deleting them? No. I'm concerned about unauthorized access."
"Then you should welcome the preservation request."
Shaw's voice became colder.
"Chief, you cannot simply seize administrative systems because you dislike a personnel decision made years ago."
"I'm not seizing anything. I'm preserving evidence connected to an active investigation."
"Those files contain confidential information."
"Which is why access is being restricted and documented."
Shaw lowered his voice.
"You are crossing a line."
Eleanor replied calmly.
"Captain, someone attempted to schedule the deletion of complaint records after I began reviewing them. If you know who did that, I suggest you provide the information immediately."
The call ended.
At 7:18 p.m., the independent evidence administrator confirmed that the relevant records had been preserved.
Maria released a breath.
"We got them."
"Not all of them," Eleanor said. "We still need to identify who attempted to change the retention settings."
The administrator opened the audit report.
The deletion request had originated from the executive administration account. But the access had been initiated through a workstation assigned to the office of Captain Shaw.
Eleanor studied the report.
"Can we establish whether Shaw personally used the workstation?"
"Not from this log alone. We need the building access records and workstation authentication history."
"Get them."
A few minutes later, Lucas Bennett entered the room.
He looked surprised to see everyone working so late.
"Chief? I was told to bring you the witness statements."
"Thank you, Officer Bennett. Leave them here."
Lucas noticed the screen.
"Is something wrong?"
Maria answered quietly.
"Someone tried to delete old complaint records."
Lucas stared at her.
"Are you serious?"
Eleanor nodded.
"We preserved them. But this is now a separate part of the investigation."
Lucas placed the statements on the table.
"Chief, I think you should know something. Sergeant Dwyer told me today that Mercer has been asking who has spoken to you."
"Did he say why?"
"He said Mercer believes someone is trying to destroy his career."
Eleanor looked at Lucas.
"Did Mercer threaten anyone?"
"Not directly. But he told Dwyer that people who turn against their own department should remember who helped them get hired."
Eleanor wrote down the statement.
"Thank you. Document the conversation while it's fresh."
Lucas nodded.
As he turned to leave, Eleanor stopped him.
"Officer Bennett."
"Yes, Chief?"
"You're doing the right thing."
Lucas gave a small, uncertain smile.
"I hope it makes a difference."
"It will, if we keep doing it properly."
After he left, Eleanor looked again at the deletion log.
Someone had tried to erase the past.
But the attempt had created another trail of evidence.
And this time, the department would not be allowed to close the file simply because the people involved held senior positions.