"That's not a requirement for attending an official investigation meeting."
Robert nodded.
"All right. Let's go."
The meeting room was already crowded when they arrived.
Deputy Commissioner Alan Brooks sat at the head of the table.
He was in his early fifties, with carefully styled gray hair and an expensive watch.
He had spent more than twenty-five years in the department.
He was considered intelligent, politically skilled, and exceptionally protective of his position.
Beside him sat Richard Cole and three senior supervisors.
Brooks looked up as Victoria entered.
"Ms. Hayes."
"Deputy Commissioner."
"I wasn't aware you were invited."
Robert pulled out a chair.
"She is leading the independent review. She has every reason to be here."
Brooks smiled politely.
"Of course."
But his expression suggested otherwise.
He waited until everyone was seated.
Then he began.
"Before we continue, I want to address the disruption caused by this investigation."
Victoria opened her notebook.
Brooks continued.
"Several employees have expressed concern about the way confidential files are being reviewed. Some have said they feel personally targeted."
Victoria looked up.
"The investigation is reviewing documented complaints, not targeting individuals."
Brooks nodded.
"That's your interpretation."
"It's the purpose of the assignment."
Brooks leaned forward.
"With respect, Ms. Hayes, you have been here for less than a month. You don't understand the history of this department."
Victoria remained calm.
"Then I welcome any information that will help me understand it."
He smiled.
"Good. Because what you need to understand is that public safety is complicated. Officers make difficult decisions every day. Sometimes people misunderstand those decisions."
Victoria nodded.
"That can happen."
"And complaints are not always accurate."
"That's why we investigate them."
Brooks looked at Robert.
"See? That's exactly the issue. We're spending valuable time reopening cases that have already been reviewed."
Victoria placed a document on the table.
"Some of these cases were never fully reviewed."
Brooks glanced at it.
"According to whom?"
"The original records."
Richard Cole shifted slightly in his chair.
Victoria noticed.
She continued.
"Several witness statements were removed from the final files. There are also discrepancies between the original submission dates and the official closure dates."
Brooks folded his hands.
"Administrative discrepancies."
"Possibly. That's why I'm requesting access to the audit logs."
The room became quiet.
Brooks looked at Robert.
"Have you authorized that?"
"Not yet."
Victoria turned toward him.
"Director, I submitted the request yesterday."
Robert nodded.
"I received it."
Brooks interrupted.
"And I would advise against approving it."
Victoria looked directly at him.
"May I ask why?"
"Because those systems contain sensitive information."
"The request is limited to complaint-processing records."
"Even so."
"Then we can establish appropriate access controls."
Brooks leaned back.
"Ms. Hayes, you seem to believe that every administrative decision hides a conspiracy."
Victoria closed her notebook.
"No. I believe that every complaint deserves a proper review. If the records are accurate, the audit logs will help confirm that."
Brooks stared at her.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then he turned toward Richard Cole.
"Mr. Cole, have you seen these documents?"
Richard cleared his throat.
"Only briefly."
"Do you have any explanation?"
Cole adjusted his glasses.
"The complaint system was overloaded during that period. Some files were returned for clarification. That was standard procedure."
Victoria opened her folder.
"Then you should have no difficulty explaining why seven complaints were returned without being registered."
Cole looked uncomfortable.
"They were incomplete."
"All seven?"
"Yes."
"Then why do several contain signed witness statements and supporting photographs?"
Cole didn't answer immediately.
Victoria continued.
"And why do the tracking sheets show that some were physically delivered to your office before being returned?"
Brooks interrupted.
"That's enough."
Victoria stopped.
He looked toward Robert.
"This meeting is over."
Robert frowned.
"We haven't finished reviewing the findings."
"I believe we've discussed enough."
Brooks stood.
"Effective immediately, all access to archived complaint files will require approval from my office."
Victoria slowly closed her folder.
"Are you formally suspending the independent review?"
Brooks stared at her.
"I'm establishing reasonable oversight."
"That's not what I asked."
He ignored the question.
Then he walked toward the door.
The other supervisors followed.
Richard Cole was the last to leave.
As he passed Victoria, he stopped briefly.
"Be careful, Ms. Hayes."
She looked up.
"Is that advice?"
He gave her a strange smile.
"Just a friendly warning."
Then he walked away.
Robert waited until the door closed.
"He's trying to stop you."
Victoria nodded.
"Yes."
"What do we do now?"
She gathered the documents.
"We preserve everything we already have and formally document the obstruction."
Robert looked worried.
"That could make things worse."
Victoria turned toward him.
"Robert, they were already willing to use their authority to prevent ordinary people from receiving justice. If we stop now, what exactly changes?"
He had no answer.
That afternoon, Victoria returned to the records room.
She wanted to speak with Margaret again.
But when she arrived, the room was empty.
Her desk had been cleared.
A small box sat on the floor beside the filing cabinet.
Victoria approached another employee.
"Excuse me. Where is Margaret Lewis?"
The employee looked uncomfortable.
"She was transferred this morning."
"Transferred where?"
"I don't know."
"Who authorized it?"
The employee hesitated.
"Human Resources."
Victoria immediately called Robert.
"Margaret has been moved."
Robert sounded surprised.
"What?"
"Her desk is empty. Her records are gone."
"That's impossible. Nobody informed me."
Victoria looked around the room.
"Someone is reacting to our investigation."
Robert paused.
"Can you reach her?"
"I'll try."
Victoria called Margaret's number.
It rang once.
Then went to voicemail.
She tried again.
No answer.
She sent a message.
Margaret, it's Victoria. I need to speak with you. Are you all right?
A few minutes passed.
Then her phone vibrated.
The message was short.
I'm sorry. I shouldn't have given you those documents. Please stop contacting me.
Victoria stared at the screen.
She knew Margaret had been frightened.
But this was different.
Someone had clearly reached her.
Before Victoria could respond, another message arrived.
This time, it came from an unknown number.
YOU ARE ASKING QUESTIONS THAT SHOULD HAVE REMAINED UNANSWERED.
Victoria read it twice.
Then she took a screenshot and saved it with the investigation records.
She wasn't frightened.
But she was concerned.
Not for herself.
For Margaret.
And for everyone else who might be pressured into silence.
As she left the records room, she noticed a familiar figure standing near the main entrance.
Richard Cole.
He was speaking quietly with a man Victoria had never seen before.