"I reviewed the complaint again. According to the official record, Thomas submitted one recording six months ago. It was rejected because the department claimed the file was corrupted."
Victoria looked at him.
"Was the original recording ever returned?"
"That's what I wanted to know. The evidence register says it was transferred to the central archive."
"Who signed for it?"
Robert turned the page.
"Richard Cole."
Victoria leaned forward.
"Then why is there no copy in the archive?"
"That's the problem."
She stared at the document.
Someone had accepted the evidence.
Someone had registered it.
And then someone had made it disappear.
At 9:30, Robert received a call from the security office.
He listened carefully before speaking.
"Understood. Thank you."
He put down the phone.
"What is it?" Victoria asked.
"Sergeant Miller has requested another meeting with us."
Victoria raised an eyebrow.
"Why?"
"He says he wants to provide additional information."
"Did he explain what information?"
"No."
Victoria considered the situation.
"Perhaps he has finally decided to cooperate."
Robert didn't look convinced.
"Or perhaps someone has told him to say something."
They agreed to meet Miller in a controlled interview room with an authorized representative present.
At 10:15, Miller entered.
He looked different from the man who had stood confidently in the parking lot.
His uniform was neat, but his face was tired.
He avoided Victoria's eyes.
Robert gestured toward the chair.
"Sit down, Sergeant."
Miller sat.
Victoria opened her notebook.
"You requested this meeting. We're listening."
Miller cleared his throat.
"I want to explain what happened outside the building."
Victoria remained expressionless.
"We have already reviewed the recordings."
"I know."
"Then what exactly do you want to explain?"
He looked toward Robert.
"I was under pressure."
Robert frowned.
"From whom?"
Miller hesitated.
"People above me."
Victoria leaned forward.
"Who?"
Miller rubbed his hands together.
"Deputy Commissioner Brooks."
Robert's expression hardened.
"Be specific."
Miller took a deep breath.
"Several months ago, I was instructed to handle certain complaints differently. Some people were considered troublemakers. We were told to discourage repeated visits and avoid creating unnecessary reports."
Victoria wrote something down.
"Who gave those instructions?"
"Sometimes Brooks. Sometimes Cole."
"And what happened if you refused?"
Miller looked uncomfortable.
"Your performance evaluations could suffer. You could lose preferred assignments. Supervisors could make your working life difficult."
Victoria looked directly at him.
"Did anyone force you to use unnecessary force?"
Miller didn't answer.
"Sergeant, I asked you a question."
"No."
"Then why did you do it?"
He looked down.
"I thought I was protecting my position."
Victoria closed her notebook.
"That's not an excuse."
"I know."
"Do you understand what happened to the people who complained about you?"
Miller's eyes remained fixed on the table.
"I didn't know everything."
"But you knew enough."
He nodded slowly.
Robert leaned forward.
"Why did you mention Thomas Reed?"
Miller looked up.
"Because his case was different."
"How?"
"After the original complaint was closed, he kept asking questions. He said he had a recording that proved the report was false."
Victoria felt her heartbeat quicken.
"What recording?"
"I never saw it. But Cole told me the file needed to be collected."
"Who collected it?"
Miller hesitated.
"An officer from the central evidence unit."
"Name?"
"I don't remember."
Victoria stared at him.
"Sergeant, this is important."
Miller finally spoke.
"Officer Kevin Harris."
Robert immediately wrote down the name.
Victoria continued.
"What happened after the recording was collected?"
Miller looked toward the door.
"I was told the case was finished."
"By whom?"
"Brooks."
The interview continued for another twenty minutes.
Miller provided several names, dates, and descriptions of meetings.
Some of his statements were useful.
Others needed independent verification.
Victoria knew better than to trust someone simply because he had finally started talking.
When the meeting ended, Miller stood.
Before leaving, he turned toward her.
"Ms. Hayes."
She looked up.
"I know you don't have any reason to believe me."
"You're right."
He nodded.
"But I want you to understand something. The people above us are more powerful than you think."
Victoria closed her folder.
"Then we should find out exactly how powerful they are."
Miller lowered his voice.
"You're not listening. They don't just control the department. They control what happens after people complain."
He walked toward the door.
Then he stopped.
"And if they discover what Thomas has, they won't let him speak."
Victoria immediately stood.
"Sergeant, where is Thomas?"
Miller looked back.
"I don't know."
"Then why are you warning me?"
He swallowed.
"Because yesterday, someone asked me whether I knew where he was hiding."
Victoria froze.
"Who?"
Miller looked at her.
"Richard Cole."
Then he left.
Victoria turned toward Robert.
"We need to find Thomas immediately."
Robert nodded.
But before either of them could move, Victoria's phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
One message.
I KNOW WHERE HE HID THE RECORDING.
She stared at the screen.
Then another message arrived.
COME ALONE IF YOU WANT TO SEE IT.
Victoria looked at Robert.
Neither of them spoke.
The investigation had just entered a dangerous new phase.
The message remained on Victoria's phone for several minutes.
She read it again and again, looking for clues.
There was no name.
No explanation.
No location.
Just a promise that someone knew where Thomas had hidden the recording.
Robert wanted her to report the message immediately.
Victoria agreed.
But she refused to follow the instructions blindly.
"Whoever sent this knows that Thomas contacted me," she said. "They may be trying to lure us into a trap."
Robert nodded.
"Then we don't go anywhere without proper authorization and security."
Victoria examined the number.
It appeared to be from a prepaid mobile service.
There was little useful information attached to it.
She replied with one sentence.
WHO ARE YOU?
No answer came.
Ten minutes later, another message appeared.
THE OLD TRAIN STATION. STORAGE ROOM 14. BEFORE NOON.
Robert read it over her shoulder.
"Absolutely not."
Victoria looked at him.
"We need to verify whether the information is genuine."
"We can arrange a controlled operation."
"Agreed. But we need to move quickly."
They contacted the appropriate independent authorities and arranged for the location to be checked safely.
At 11:20, Victoria and Robert arrived near the old train station.
The building had been partially abandoned for several years.
Most of the public entrances were closed.
A few small businesses still operated nearby, but the storage area was almost completely deserted.
Victoria remained with the authorized team while officers checked the location.
A few minutes later, one of them returned.