Daniel didn't answer.
That silence told Laura more than any explanation could.
Meanwhile, Victoria had been reviewing Daniel's personnel history.
His career had begun with several positive evaluations.
He had received commendations for responding to emergencies, assisting victims, and working long shifts during major public events.
But something changed after his promotion to senior patrol officer.
His complaints increased.
His disciplinary record became inconsistent.
And his relationship with Captain Mitchell became unusually close.
Victoria requested his original training records.
One document caught her attention.
A report from a former supervisor named James Porter.
It described an incident in which Daniel had used excessive force during an arrest.
Porter had recommended additional training.
But the recommendation had disappeared from the final personnel file.
Victoria contacted Porter.
He agreed to meet her at a public library.
The former supervisor was now retired and appeared uncomfortable discussing his previous department.
"I warned them about Daniel," he said.
"What happened?"
"He was a good officer when he started. But he began believing that every challenge to his authority was a personal attack."
"Did you report his behavior?"
"Several times."
"Why wasn't anything done?"
Porter looked down.
"Because Mitchell protected him."
"Why?"
Porter remained silent.
Then he finally spoke.
"Daniel knew things about the department. Things that could damage careers."
Victoria leaned forward.
"What kind of things?"
"Altered reports. Missing recordings. Arrests that were never properly documented."
"Was Daniel involved?"
Porter nodded.
"Not at first. But eventually he became part of it."
Victoria wrote down every detail.
"Do you have evidence?"
Porter reached into his briefcase.
He removed an old notebook.
"I kept copies of my original recommendations. I thought someone might need them one day."
Victoria accepted the notebook.
There were dates, signatures, and references to several internal investigations.
On one page, Daniel's name appeared beside another name.
Robert Mitchell.
On the next page was a handwritten note.
SPECIAL UNIT β OPERATION CLEAR PATH.
Victoria had never heard of it.
"What is Operation Clear Path?"
Porter looked toward the entrance of the library.
"I don't know everything. But I know it was used to make certain investigations disappear."
Victoria closed the notebook.
"Who else knows?"
Porter lowered his voice.
"People who are still working for the department."
As Victoria left the library, she received a message from Michael Reed.
I NEED TO TALK TO YOU. IT'S ABOUT DANIEL.
She called him immediately.
"What happened?"
Michael sounded nervous.
"I found something in the old incident records."
"What?"
"Daniel was involved in another case. A case that was never included in the complaint database."
"Which case?"
There was a long silence.
Then Michael said:
"The death of a young man named Andre Collins's older brother."
Victoria stopped walking.
"Andre had a brother?"
"Yes. His name was Samuel."
Victoria felt a chill.
"Why wasn't this mentioned in the original investigation?"
Michael's answer was barely audible.
"Because the report says he died in a traffic accident."
"And you don't believe that?"
"No."
"Why?"
Michael took a breath.
"Because I was there that night."
Victoria closed her eyes.
For the first time, she realized that the story behind Daniel Brooks might be far darker than she had imagined
ng work, she asked Eleanor to check whether any additional documents existed concerning Samuel Collins.
Eleanor promised to look.
At six o'clock, Victoria arrived at the diner.
Michael was sitting in a booth near the back.
He looked exhausted.
"You came alone?" he asked.
"Yes."
He looked around before speaking.
"I don't know how much longer I can keep doing this."
Victoria sat down.
"Then tell me what you know."
Michael placed a small envelope on the table.
Inside were copies of dispatch records.
One page showed an emergency call from the night Samuel died.
The call had been made at 11:42 p.m.
Another page showed the time officers arrived.
11:49 p.m.
But the official accident report stated that the first responding unit arrived at 12:06 a.m.
Victoria examined the documents.
"Why is there a seventeen-minute difference?"
Michael shook his head.
"Because someone changed the timeline."
"Who?"
"Mitchell."
Victoria looked up.
"How do you know?"
"Because he ordered me to correct the dispatch summary."
"Did you?"
Michael lowered his head.
"Yes."
Victoria remained silent.
"I was a new officer," he continued. "Mitchell told me it was a routine administrative correction. I didn't understand what was happening."
"What happened to Samuel?"
Michael looked toward the window.
"He was found beside his car. But there were injuries that didn't match the accident."
Victoria felt her stomach tighten.
"Was he alive?"
"Not when I arrived."
"Did Daniel Brooks have anything to do with it?"
Michael hesitated.
"Daniel was there before the official responding unit."
Victoria stared at him.
"How is that possible?"
"I don't know. But I heard them arguing before the accident was reported."
"Who was arguing?"
"Daniel and Samuel."
Victoria opened her notebook.
"Did anyone else witness this?"
"One person. A woman who lived nearby."
"Do you know her name?"
"Maria Collins. Samuel and Andre's mother."
Victoria wrote it down.
Michael continued.
"After the incident, Mitchell told us to keep everything within the department. He said the case was closed and there was no reason to create problems."
"Why are you telling me this now?"
Michael looked ashamed.
"Because I saw what Daniel did to you. And I realized that if I stayed silent again, I would be no different from the people who covered it up."
Victoria nodded.
"Your statement could be important. But you need to understand that giving it may expose you to serious consequences."
"I know."
Before Victoria could respond, Michael suddenly looked toward the window.
His face changed.
"What?" she asked.
"That car."
Victoria turned.
A black SUV was parked across the street.
Its headlights were off.
Someone was sitting inside.
Michael immediately stood.
"We need to leave."
Victoria gathered the documents.
They walked through the rear entrance.
A few minutes later, Victoria received a call from Eleanor.
"Where are you?"
"Leaving a meeting."
"Victoria, listen carefully. We found something."
"What?"
"Samuel Collins's original emergency call was not just edited. The recording itself was removed from the department archive."
Victoria stopped.
"Can it be recovered?"
"Possibly. Our technical team is working on it."
"Anything else?"
Eleanor hesitated.
"The person who authorized the deletion was Captain Mitchell."
Victoria looked at Michael.
He was standing beside her, staring down the alley.
Then he whispered:
"He's here."
Victoria turned.
At the far end of the alley stood a man in a dark jacket.
He was holding a phone.
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Then the man raised the phone and took a photograph.
He turned and disappeared around the corner.
Michael grabbed Victoria's arm.
"That's one of Mitchell's men."
Victoria immediately contacted the appropriate authorities.
The encounter had changed everything.
They were no longer investigating a collection of old complaints.