Voss's mouth turned sharp. "And they assigned you a guard dog. How thoughtful."
"We need access to the original case files," I cut in. Getting to the point. "The drug trafficking operation connected to Daniel. Inspector Murphy's orders."
I handed over the authorization papers. Watched Voss's features narrow as he scanned them.
"Those files are restricted. Division policy after the leak, which I'm sure you remember well."
"I wasn't accused of anything. I was transferred, not terminated. I'm still a cop."
"On paper, maybe." Voss snorted. "Some of us still uphold standards."
"And some of us solve cases. Which is what we're trying to do, unless you have a reason to obstruct an official investigation?"
Alarm flickered across his face before settling back into disdain. "Fine. I'll escort you to records myself. Can't have any more... unfortunate leaks."
The records room smelled of dust and old paper. Despite the digital archives that had supposedly made physical files obsolete. Some things never changed. The division's distrust of technology chief among them.
Voss hovered uncomfortably close as I pulled files from the shelves. His cologne overwhelming in the confined space. "Careful with those. Career-ending mistakes happen so easily."
"Speaking from experience?"
"Just looking out for what's left of your reputation. Loyalty matters in this division."
"Loyalty to what?" Hawley suddenly positioned his large frame between Voss and me. "The badge or the bullshit?"
Voss's smile didn't reach his eyes. "There's no difference in my world."
"That explains a lot."
"I'll be back." He glanced at his watch. "I have actual work to do."
When the door closed behind him, Hawley immediately moved to block it. Wedged a chair under the handle.
"He's nervous."
I nodded. Rifled through more files. "He's hiding something. The question is whether he's protecting himself or someone else."
I leaned over the stack of evidence files. The knot in my stomach tightened with each document I examined. This was wrong. Seriously wrong.
"This doesn't make sense." I compared the report in my hands to my mental record of the case. "This surveillance log is completely different from what I remember."
Hawley glanced up from his position by the computer terminal. "Different how?"
"The dates are shifted. According to this, we had surveillance on the Silver Lotus club for three nights, not five." I flipped through more pages. Frustration mounting. "And these dealer profiles have missing information. Names removed."
I pushed aside that file and grabbed another. Scanned its contents with growing alarm. The knot twisted tighter.
"Look at this." I slid a document across the table. "The list of officers with access to the CI database during the operation. There were fourteen names on this list originally. Now there are eleven."
Hawley examined the paper. His face darkening. "Someone's sanitizing the records."
"Not only that but rewriting history." I ran a hand through my hair. Fought to keep my voice level. "These changes are deliberate. They're removing specific information about who had access to informant identities and which clubs were primary distribution points."
"The clubs Daniel mentioned."
"Exactly." I pulled another file. My fingers trembling slightly with anger. "I know this case inside and out. I lived it for a year. These reports are wrong."
I ground my teeth. Clutched the falsified documents.
