Marcus looked at him.
"Then I assume you have no objection to providing the complete records."
"Absolutely not."
"Good."
David opened his briefcase.
"We have requested the original reports, dispatch recordings, body-camera footage, and internal communications relating to the seventeen complaints."
Mitchell nodded.
"Some of those records may no longer be available."
Marcus looked up.
"Why?"
"Technical issues. Storage limitations. Routine retention policies."
"Are you saying that important recordings have been deleted?"
"I'm saying that some older files may not exist anymore."
Marcus opened the folder.
"That's interesting because several complainants specifically stated that they were told their encounters had been recorded."
Mitchell's expression tightened.
"People sometimes misunderstand what officers tell them."
Marcus turned a page.
"Then perhaps you can explain this."
He placed a document in front of the deputy chief.
It was a copy of an internal email.
The sender was Officer Daniel Whitmore.
The recipient was Deputy Chief Raymond Mitchell.
The date was almost two years earlier.
The subject line read:
RE: INCIDENT INVOLVING MR. HENRY CARTER
Mitchell glanced at it.
His expression barely changed.
"That's an old email."
Marcus nodded.
"Yes. It is."
He read aloud.
"'The subject refused to comply with lawful instructions. Physical intervention became necessary. Video footage is inconsistent with the written report. Request guidance regarding preservation of recording.'"
The room became silent.
Marcus placed the paper down.
"Deputy Chief, what did you do after receiving this message?"
Mitchell folded his hands.
"I don't recall."
"You don't recall?"
"It was nearly two years ago."
Marcus turned another page.
"Then perhaps this will help."
He placed a second document beside the first.
It was the response.
One sentence.
DELETE THE DUPLICATE RECORDING AND SUBMIT THE REVISED REPORT.
Mitchell stared at the paper.
For the first time, his composure began to crack.
Chief Lawson leaned forward.
"Raymond, what is this?"
Mitchell cleared his throat.
"I would need to review the original correspondence before commenting."
Marcus looked directly at him.
"You're looking at it now."
"These documents may have been taken out of context."
"Then provide the context."
Mitchell remained silent.
Marcus continued.
"We are not here to assume guilt. We are here to determine what happened. But if an officer reported that video evidence contradicted a written report, and a senior official instructed that recording to be deleted, that is a serious matter."
The chief turned toward Mitchell.
"Did you send this email?"
Mitchell looked uncomfortable.
"I don't remember sending it."
Chief Lawson's voice became firmer.
"That wasn't my question."
Before Mitchell could respond, the conference room door opened.
A young administrative employee entered carrying a laptop.
"Chief, I'm sorry to interrupt."
Lawson looked irritated.
"What is it?"
"We received a message from the department's records administrator."
"What message?"
She placed the laptop on the table.
"An archived server backup has been located."
Marcus immediately looked up.
"Which backup?"
"The original evidence storage system from two years ago."
David leaned forward.
"Does it contain the Henry Carter recording?"
The employee nodded.
"Apparently, yes."
Nobody spoke.
The chief stared at the laptop.
"Are you certain?"
"Yes, sir. The files were transferred to an external backup before the department changed its storage system."
Marcus exchanged a glance with David.
This was exactly what they needed.
Mitchell suddenly interrupted.
"Those files cannot be accessed without authorization."
The employee looked at him.
"The records administrator says they are part of an active preservation request."
"Who authorized that?"
Marcus answered calmly.
"The independent oversight office."
Mitchell turned toward him.
"You cannot simply walk into this department and demand access to confidential police records."
Marcus didn't raise his voice.
"I'm not demanding anything outside the scope of the review. We submitted a formal preservation request, and the records administrator is complying with it."
Chief Lawson rubbed his forehead.
"Let's see what is actually on the recording before we draw conclusions."
The employee connected the laptop to the conference room display.
A video appeared.
The footage was dated two years earlier.
It showed an elderly Black man standing beside a pickup truck outside a residential property.
His name was Henry Carter.
He appeared to be in his late sixties.
Two police officers approached him.
One was Daniel Whitmore.
The other was a younger officer whose name Marcus did not recognize.
Henry was holding a small paper bag.
He appeared confused but cooperative.
The video had no sound at first.
The employee adjusted the settings.
Then a voice became audible.
"Sir, step away from the truck."
Henry turned.
"Officer, this is my property. I live right here."