"Whose account?"
Eleanor hesitated.
"Kevin Shaw."
Victoria immediately remembered the second police vehicle in Ethan's recording.
"He's connected to the incident."
"Yes. But there's more."
Eleanor sent her a document.
It was a report showing that several records had been modified after the original complaints were filed.
Some witness statements had disappeared.
Other documents had been replaced with revised versions.
Victoria stared at the screen.
"Someone is altering evidence."
"We're notifying the state attorney's office."
"Good. And we need to secure the original records immediately."
Before they could continue, Victoria's assistant rushed into the room.
"Victoria, there's a problem at the storage facility."
"What kind of problem?"
"The location from the anonymous email. It was broken into last night."
Victoria stood.
"Was anything stolen?"
"The facility manager says several boxes are missing."
"Which boxes?"
The assistant looked at the document in her hand.
"Records from the Westbridge Police Department. Mostly archived evidence."
Victoria closed her eyes.
Someone had reached the records before her team.
And that meant the person behind the cover-up knew exactly what she was investigating.
But there was one detail she hadn't considered.
The break-in had occurred at 2:14 a.m.
The security system showed that the door had been opened using an authorized access code.
A code belonging to a senior police commander.
Robert Mitchell.
Victoria looked at Eleanor.
"Now we know this isn't just about Daniel Brooks."
Eleanor nodded slowly.
"It's about everyone protecting him."
By Friday morning, the confrontation on Mercer Avenue had become the biggest local news story in Westbridge.
The video had passed two million views.
National commentators were discussing it.
Civil rights organizations had issued statements demanding an independent investigation.
A group of residents gathered outside the police headquarters carrying signs.
Some read:
JUSTICE FOR VICTORIA.
Others read:
BADGES DO NOT GIVE YOU THE RIGHT TO ABUSE PEOPLE.
Victoria watched the news from her office.
The reporter stood outside the police station.
"Public pressure is increasing after footage emerged showing an officer pushing a woman against a wall during an encounter that witnesses say appeared entirely unnecessary."
The reporter continued.
"The woman, identified as Victoria Hayes, is an investigator with the State Office of Police Accountability. The department has not yet explained why the officer attempted to detain her."
Victoria turned off the television.
She didn't enjoy being the center of attention.
Her job was to investigate facts, not become a public figure.
But the attention was bringing forward witnesses who had remained silent for years.
Her phone rang.
It was Jasmine.
"Ms. Hayes, I think someone is following me."
Victoria immediately stood.
"Where are you?"
"At home."
"Are you safe?"
"I think so. There's a black SUV parked across the street. It's been there for almost an hour."
"Don't approach the vehicle. Contact local authorities if you feel in immediate danger. I'll arrange for our office to document what you've reported."
Jasmine's voice trembled.
"Do you think it's because of the video?"
"I don't know yet. But I want you to take this seriously."
After the call, Victoria contacted her security coordinator.
Then she opened the investigation file.
There were now six people who had reported intimidation or suspicious contact since the video appeared.
Four were witnesses.
One was a former department employee.
The sixth was Andre Collins.
Someone was trying to prevent people from speaking.
At noon, Victoria received an unexpected visit.
A man in a dark suit introduced himself as David Mercer, the police department's legal adviser.
"Ms. Hayes, I'd like to discuss the investigation."
Victoria gestured toward a chair.
"Go ahead."
Mercer sat down and placed a folder on the table.
"The department believes the situation has been exaggerated."
Victoria didn't touch the folder.
"Based on what evidence?"
"The officer involved has already been removed from patrol duty."
"That doesn't answer my question."
Mercer opened the folder.
"We would like to offer a formal apology and cooperate in resolving the matter."
Victoria looked at him.
"Is the department also willing to reopen the fourteen complaints involving Officer Brooks?"
Mercer hesitated.
"That would require a separate review."
"They are already part of the same investigation."
"Ms. Hayes, surely you understand that an organization cannot function if every mistake becomes a public scandal."
Victoria leaned forward.
"An organization cannot function when it protects misconduct."
Mercer closed the folder.
"You're making this personal."
"No. I'm making it documented."
The meeting ended without an agreement.
That evening, Victoria returned home and found an envelope beneath her apartment door.
There was no name on it.
Inside was a photograph.
It showed Victoria standing outside the State Office of Police Accountability.
The photograph had been taken from across the street.
On the back, someone had written:
YOU SHOULD HAVE LEFT MERCER AVENUE ALONE.
Victoria felt her pulse quicken.
She photographed the envelope and contacted the appropriate authorities.
Then she called Eleanor.
"Someone is targeting me."
Eleanor's voice became serious.
"Did they threaten you?"
"Yes."
"Victoria, we may need to suspend your fieldwork temporarily."
"No."
"Listen to me. This is becoming dangerous."
Victoria looked at the photograph.
"That's exactly why we cannot stop."
A moment later, another message arrived.
This one came from an unknown number.
It contained a video attachment.
Victoria opened it.
The footage showed a dark office.
A man was sitting behind a desk.
The camera slowly moved closer.
Victoria recognized him.
It was Thomas Miller, the former police records technician.
He looked exhausted.
His voice was barely audible.
"Ms. Hayes, if you receive this message, I need you to understand something. The files from Mercer Avenue are not the only missing records."
He paused.
Then he looked directly into the camera.
"There's a list of officers who were paid to change reports. And Daniel Brooks is only one name on it."
The video ended.
Victoria replayed it.
Then she noticed a final line of text attached to the message.
THE ORIGINAL FILES ARE WITH THE PERSON YOU TRUST MOST.
Victoria stared at the screen.
Whoever had sent the video knew something she didn't.
And the most frightening possibility was that the person responsible was already inside her investigation team.
ying you've been doing this for years."
Daniel looked away.
"People say a lot of things."
"Daniel, I know you."
"Then you should trust me."
Laura shook her head.
"I've trusted you for fifteen years. But I watched that video. I saw what happened."
Daniel walked toward the kitchen.
"She was interfering with police business."
"She was asking you a question."
"You're not a police officer. You don't understand."
Laura followed him.
"Maybe I don't understand police work. But I understand what it looks like when someone is being hurt."
Daniel slammed his hand against the counter.
"Enough!"
Laura stepped back.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then she asked quietly:
"Did you know who she was before you pushed her?"
"No."
"Would you have treated her differently if you had?"