Monique resumed.
The first window shattered.
Then another.
Then another.
Maya remained clear of the Bentley.
Her hands were visible.
Derek searched the cabin.
The trunk argument followed.
The camera shifted when Derek removed it from the mount.
Audio continued.
“Document chain of custody,” Maya said.
Derek answered, “I know how evidence works.”
Then Maya’s voice again.
“Then preserve it.”
The file ended.
Silence filled the evidence room.
Derek eventually said, “That doesn’t show what happened after.”
Monique looked at him.
“It shows enough to compare with what you wrote.”
Russell stepped forward.
“That was roadside conduct. I wasn’t present.”
Derek turned toward him.
“You reviewed everything.”
“I reviewed what you brought in.”
“You told me what to put in the report.”
Russell’s expression hardened.
“Watch yourself.”
Derek laughed once.
“You gave me the language.”
Monique raised her hand.
“Both of you stop.”
The alliance was already cracking.
Chapter 14: Aaron’s Notes
Daniel compared the external camera logs with Cedar Ridge’s internal evidence system. The device entered headquarters as active electronic evidence before later changing to damaged equipment. Derek’s account accessed the record first.
Russell’s accessed it afterward.
Then the classification changed.
Daniel opened the transition-case record.
The same pattern appeared.
Original inventory.
Supervisory access.
Modified inventory.
Monique turned toward Aaron.
“You have something to tell me?”
He nodded.
They moved into a conference room.
Aaron explained what happened on the road.
The green camera light.
Derek checking the files.
The claim that they were corrupted.
The initial evidence status.
Russell entering the evidence room.
“I didn’t copy anything,” Aaron said.
“What did you do?”
“I made maintenance notes describing what the system showed before the supervisory changes.”
Monique nodded.
“Show us.”
He opened the first.
Device responded normally during initial intake before supervisory review.
Daniel checked the timestamp against the deeper audit history.
Match.
Aaron showed the second.
Original camera classification visible before supervisory access.
Match.
Then the transition case.
Initial inventory contained additional numbered entries before supervisory review.
Daniel compared it.
Again, the timestamp matched.
Monique looked at Aaron.
“Did you see Captain Hollis destroy anything?”
“No.”
“Did you see Maddox delete the video?”
“No.”
“Do you believe they did?”
Aaron hesitated.
“I have suspicions.”