The preliminary findings raised more questions.
The original index listed Patricia Greene's statement as supplemental witness material.
The amended index described it as administrative correspondence.
The restricted transfer register contained a reference to the document but did not identify the person who received it.
The official investigative report did not mention Patricia Greene.
And the report's timeline placed the first notice of David's medical distress nearly two hours after the time recorded in the memorandum.
Marcus assembled the team in the conference room.
“We have a potentially significant witness statement,” he began. “We also have evidence of irregular document handling. We do not yet have proof that anyone deliberately concealed the statement, and we will not describe it that way until the evidence supports that conclusion.”
He displayed the timeline.
“Our immediate priorities are to locate Patricia Greene, identify the person who received the restricted file, obtain the medical and dispatch records, and determine who authorized the change to the index.”
Elena raised a hand.
“What about Keller?”
“We need to interview him, but first we should establish what documents exist and what he has already been told about the review. We don't want an interview conducted before we understand the record.”
“What if he refuses?”
“He has whatever rights apply to him. We'll document his response and proceed through the appropriate legal channels.”
An investigator near the end of the table spoke.
“There's another problem. Keller's personnel records show that he retired with an unblemished disciplinary history. If the witness statement was excluded from the original case, that history may be incomplete.”
Marcus nodded.
“Then we examine the records. We don't assume the absence of a disciplinary finding proves that nothing happened.”
He turned off the display.
“Remember that there are several separate questions here. What happened to David Carter? What did the officers know about his condition? Why was the witness statement excluded from the ordinary file? And did anyone deliberately interfere with the investigation afterward?”
He paused.
“We need evidence for each question.”
The team dispersed to begin its work.
Marcus remained behind with Elena.
“You know what this means,” she said.
“It means we have a witness statement that needs to be verified.”
“You know that's not all I mean.”
Marcus looked at her.
“If Keller ordered the transfer, and Harlan altered the index, then both of them may have information about the way the original investigation was handled.”
“And Brooks?”
“We have no evidence connecting him to David Carter's death. We must not create a connection simply because his complaints are part of the same broader review.”
Elena nodded.
“Understood.”
Marcus gathered his notes.
“Still, we need to determine whether the handling of complaints against Brooks followed the same pattern. If supervisors repeatedly changed classifications, closed files prematurely, or moved documents without proper authorization, that could reveal an institutional problem.”
He glanced toward the conference room door.
“And if it turns out that different people were responsible for different failures, we'll document that too. The goal is not to find one person to blame for everything. The goal is to establish what happened.”
At 1:30 p.m., Richard Miller arrived at Marcus's office carrying a small cardboard box.
He had brought photographs, letters, and a few personal items belonging to David Carter. Most of the material had been stored for years in a cupboard in Richard's study.
Marcus greeted him in the lobby.
“Thank you for coming.”
Richard looked tired.
“Did you find something?”
Marcus did not answer immediately.
“We found a witness statement that was not included in the official investigative report. It describes David asking for medical assistance while he was in custody.”
Richard stopped walking.
For a moment, he seemed unable to understand the words.
“Someone heard him?”
“Yes.”
“And the department knew?”
“The statement references an encounter with Raymond Keller. We are still establishing who received the statement and why it was transferred to a restricted file.”
Richard closed his eyes.
He had spent twenty-two years imagining David's final hours. Sometimes he pictured his friend frightened and confused. Sometimes he imagined David becoming angry, demanding to know why he was being held. In his darkest moments, he had wondered whether David had called out for someone to help him and whether anyone had heard.
Now he had evidence that someone may have heard.
He opened his eyes.
“Who was the witness?”
“Patricia Greene. We are trying to locate her.”
Richard set the box on a nearby table.
“Then find her.”
“We will.”
“Please understand something, Marcus. I don't need a story that makes me feel better. I need to know what happened.”
“I understand.”
Richard looked at him intensely.
“If the statement is authentic, then someone heard David asking for help. Someone reported it. And somehow, that information never reached the people who were supposed to investigate his death.”