"Then whoever entered this office knew what they were looking for."
Marcus looked at her.
"Do you think Parker was taken?"
"I don't know."
"Can you find out?"
"We'll try."
She turned toward the entrance.
"There's something you should understand, Mr. Bennett. If this investigation reaches the commissioner, we need to assume that information may be leaking from inside the system."
Marcus nodded.
"That's already my concern."
Elena continued.
"And we need to identify who has access to the evidence."
At 8:40 p.m., Marcus received a call from an unknown number.
He answered.
"Hello?"
For several seconds, there was only breathing.
Then a familiar voice spoke.
"Mr. Bennett?"
Marcus froze.
"James?"
"It's me."
"Where are you?"
"I can't tell you."
"Are you hurt?"
A brief silence followed.
"No. But they know what I gave you."
Marcus moved toward the window.
"Who?"
"I don't know exactly. Two men came to the shop. They said they were investigating a complaint."
"Did they identify themselves?"
"They showed badges, but something wasn't right."
"Did they take you somewhere?"
"No. I managed to get away."
Marcus exhaled.
"Are you safe now?"
"I think so."
"James, listen to me. Do not return home. Your wife and daughter are being protected."
Parker's voice trembled.
"Did you find the other documents?"
"Some of them."
"Then you need to look at the last page."
"What last page?"
"The list of names."
Marcus remembered the document.
"What about it?"
Parker lowered his voice.
"There are three names marked 'Do Not Reopen.' But there's another name written on the back."
Marcus immediately turned toward David, who had just entered the office.
"Which name?"
Parker whispered.
"Chief Harold Lawson."
Marcus went silent.
"Are you certain?"
"Yes. I saw Mitchell write it himself."
"Why would the chief's name be on that list?"
Parker took a shaky breath.
"Because the chief knew about the cover-up."
Marcus closed his eyes briefly.
This was worse than he had imagined.
He had believed Lawson might be an ally.
But if Parker was telling the truth, the chief himself could have been involved.
Parker continued.
"There's something else. Henry Carter wasn't the only victim."
Marcus tightened his grip on the phone.
"How many others?"
"At least six. They all had complaints that disappeared."
"Do you know where the original documents are?"
"I kept another copy."
"Where?"
Parker hesitated.
"At my house."
Marcus looked toward David.
"James, don't go there. Tell me where it is, and we'll arrange for investigators to retrieve it safely."
Before Parker could answer, a loud noise came through the phone.
A door slammed.
Parker whispered urgently.
"Someone's here."
"James?"
"I have to go."
"Wait! Where are you?"
But the call ended.
Marcus immediately called back.
The phone was switched off.
He stared at the screen.
David approached.
"What happened?"
Marcus slowly lowered the phone.
"Parker has another copy of the evidence. It's at his house."
David nodded.
"Then we need to secure it."
Marcus looked at him.
"And we need to find out whether Chief Lawson is involved."
David's expression changed.
"Are you saying the chief may be part of this?"
"I'm saying we can no longer assume anyone is innocent simply because of their position."
Outside, a siren sounded in the distance.
Marcus walked toward the office door.
Tomorrow's press conference was still scheduled.
Commissioner Harrington was expected to stand before television cameras and announce a new initiative promising transparency, fairness, and accountability within the police department.
He would smile.
He would shake hands.
He would speak about public trust.
And he would probably expect everyone to believe him.
Marcus looked at David.
"Get the state investigators. I want Parker's family protected, and I want every surviving record preserved."
David nodded.
"What about Harrington?"
Marcus picked up his jacket.
"We let him hold his press conference."
David looked confused.
"Why?"
Marcus's expression became cold.
"Because tomorrow, he's going to tell the entire city how honest his department is."
He paused.
"And then we're going to show everyone the truth."
But neither man knew that Commissioner Harrington had already received a message about the missing recording.
At 9:03 p.m., inside his private residence, the commissioner sat behind his desk reading a report.
His phone vibrated.
A message appeared.
THEY HAVE THE RECORDING. BENNETT IS PREPARING TO RELEASE IT.
Harrington slowly removed his glasses.
For several seconds, he stared at the message.
Then he opened his contacts and selected a number he had not called in months.
The person answered almost immediately.
"Yes, Commissioner?"
Harrington looked toward the dark window.