"That is a reasonable thing to ask."
Victor Langford received news of the investigation on Thursday afternoon.
His secretary placed a confidential briefing on his desk.
He read the first page.
Then the second.
By the time he reached the third page, his expression had changed.
Camille Rivers was reviewing old disciplinary records.
The name Denise Parker had resurfaced.
And the accountability office had requested access to archived complaint documents.
Victor picked up his phone.
"Get me Captain Ellis."
Five minutes later, Captain Richard Ellis entered the office.
"Sir?"
Victor closed the folder.
"Tell me what you know about Camille Rivers."
Ellis hesitated.
"She's leading the accountability investigation."
"I know that. What else?"
"She's thorough. She doesn't usually make accusations without evidence."
Victor leaned back.
"That's precisely why she's dangerous."
Ellis remained silent.
Victor continued.
"People like her believe every document tells a story. They don't understand how complicated police administration can be."
"With respect, sir, perhaps we should cooperate fully."
Victor's eyes narrowed.
"Are you questioning my instructions?"
"No, sir."
"Then listen carefully. I want every department record reviewed. Nothing is to leave this building without authorization."
Ellis nodded.
Victor stood and walked toward the window.
"And find out who gave her those photographs."
Two days later, Samuel Carter finally contacted Camille.
He asked to meet at a small restaurant outside the city center.
Camille arrived with Rachel Morgan.
Samuel was already waiting.
He looked exhausted.
"Thank you for coming," he said.
Camille sat down.
"You contacted my office anonymously?"
Samuel shook his head.
"No. But I know who did."
"Who?"
"Marcus Reed."
Camille recognized the name from the records.
"Where is he?"
"I don't know."
"What do you mean you don't know?"
Samuel looked around before answering.
"He disappeared three weeks ago."
Rachel leaned forward.
"Have you reported him missing?"
Samuel gave a bitter laugh.
"To whom? The same department he believes is involved?"
Camille studied him.
"Detective, I need you to understand something. We cannot investigate rumors. We need evidence."
"I know."
"Then tell me what you have."
Samuel reached into his jacket and removed a small notebook.
Inside were dates, names, and references to internal reports.
He explained that Marcus had discovered several inconsistencies while working in the records department.
Some complaints had been improperly closed.
Other reports had been transferred into restricted archives.
A few documents had been modified after their original submission dates.
Samuel had attempted to raise concerns internally.
But his requests were ignored.
Then he was transferred to a different division.
"Why didn't you come forward earlier?" Camille asked.
Samuel looked down.
"Because I was afraid."
Camille did not judge him.
Fear could silence even people who knew the truth.
Samuel continued.
"I have a daughter. She's sixteen. I didn't want to lose my job or put my family in danger."
Camille closed the notebook.
"Thank you for telling us. We'll need to verify every detail."
Samuel nodded.
"There's something else."
"What?"
"Marcus told me that the documents weren't being changed by ordinary officers. Someone with administrative access was approving the alterations."
Camille's expression became serious.
"Who?"
Samuel looked directly at her.
"Deputy Commissioner Victor Langford."
The following Monday, Camille received a phone call from an unfamiliar number.
"Ms. Rivers?"
"Yes."
"You need to be careful about the investigation you're conducting."
Camille stopped walking.
"Who is this?"
"Someone who knows how these things work."
"Then you should know that threatening a public official is not a particularly intelligent way to begin a conversation."
The caller laughed quietly.
"You're making powerful enemies."
"That isn't an answer to my question."
"You should think about your career. You have a promising future."
Camille's voice remained calm.
"Are you suggesting that I stop investigating?"
"I'm suggesting that some matters are better left alone."
Camille ended the call.
She immediately informed her security team and documented the conversation.
When Natalie learned what had happened, she became visibly upset.
"This is getting dangerous."
Camille nodded.
"Yes."
"Maybe we should ask for additional protection."
"Arrange it."
Natalie hesitated.
"Are you considering stepping away from the investigation?"
Camille looked at her.
"No."
"Why not?"
Camille turned toward the window.
"Because Denise Parker is still waiting for someone to take her complaint seriously. And I suspect she isn't the only one."
News of the investigation eventually reached the media.
A local journalist named Olivia Grant published an article titled:
WHO IS PROTECTING THE PEOPLE WHO PROTECT WESTBRIDGE?
The article described allegations of missing records, disputed complaint withdrawals, and unexplained administrative decisions.
It did not declare anyone guilty.
Instead, it asked why several complaints had been closed under suspicious circumstances.
The story spread quickly.
Residents began contacting the accountability office.
Some described incidents that had happened years earlier.
Others submitted documents they had kept in drawers because they believed nobody would care.
One man sent a letter explaining that his brother had been arrested after a traffic stop and that the official report contained information the family believed was inaccurate.
A retired teacher submitted a complaint about an incident involving her husband.
A young mother requested assistance after discovering that a report she had filed had been marked incomplete.
The office was suddenly overwhelmed.
Thomas Greene entered Camille's office carrying a stack of files.
"We have a problem."
Camille looked up.
"How many?"
"Forty-seven new submissions since yesterday morning."
She stared at the documents.
"Then we need more investigators."
"We also need funding."
Camille nodded.
"Prepare an emergency resource request."
Thomas placed the files on her desk.
"Some people are calling you a hero."
Camille shook her head.
"I don't need to be a hero."
"What do you need?"
She looked at the growing pile of complaints.
"People need a system that works even when I'm not in the room."
On Friday evening, Denise Parker returned to the accountability office.
She was carrying a small brown envelope.
"I found something," she told Camille.
Inside was an old photograph.
It showed Denise standing outside a police administrative building with another woman.
The other woman appeared to be in her early forties.
Camille examined the image.
"Who is she?"
"Her name is Patricia Moore. She worked in the department's records office."
"How is she connected to your complaint?"
Denise explained that Patricia had approached her shortly after the original incident.
She claimed that the complaint had been entered into the system correctly.
But later, Patricia called Denise privately and said that someone had instructed her to remove the complaint from the active investigation list.
"Why didn't she report it?" Camille asked.
"She said she was afraid of losing her job."
"Where is she now?"
Denise took a folded piece of paper from the envelope.