Chapter 4: The Man Outside the Door
The hospital room door opened three inches.
A man's polished black shoe appeared first, followed by the edge of a dark suit.
"Commissioner Davis? We need to talk about your brother.""
Angela immediately stepped between the doorway and Marcus's bed.
"Identify yourself.""
The man pushed the door open.
He was in his early forties, with neatly combed brown hair, a narrow face, and a small silver badge clipped to his belt.
"Detective Daniel Brooks. Major Crimes Division.""
Angela didn't move.
"Show me your credentials.""
Brooks produced his identification.
Angela examined it carefully, then handed it back.
"Why are you here?""
"I've been assigned to investigate the incident at Centennial Park.""
"By whom?""
"Deputy Commissioner Vaughn.""
The room went quiet.
Marcus looked at his sister.
Angela's expression didn't change, but her eyes hardened.
"Deputy Commissioner Vaughn has no authority to assign an investigator to an incident involving a member of my immediate family without notifying my office.""
Brooks shrugged.
"Perhaps he felt the circumstances required urgency.""
"What circumstances?""
Brooks glanced toward Marcus.
"Your brother is connected to an ongoing criminal investigation.""
Marcus slowly sat up.
"What investigation?""
Brooks opened a thin folder.
"Mr. Carter, we have information suggesting you possess stolen municipal property.""
Marcus stared at him.
"That's interesting.""
"Is it?""
"Because twenty minutes ago, I was the victim of an assault. Now I'm apparently a suspect.""
Brooks didn't smile.
"Things can change quickly.""
Angela stepped closer.
"Detective, my brother is receiving medical treatment. You will not question him without his attorney present.""
"I'm not questioning him. I'm informing him.""
"Then inform him through the proper channels.""
Brooks looked at the hospital bed.
"Mr. Carter, would you mind explaining why your fingerprints were found on a security access card recovered from a city facility?""
Marcus blinked.
"What card?""
"The access card belonging to Sentinel Protective Solutions.""
Angela's eyes flickered toward Marcus.
Brooks noticed.
"Ah. So the company name means something to you.""
Marcus looked at the detective.
"That company is connected to a procurement investigation. I've been reviewing its contracts.""
"Without authorization?""
"I'm a private contractor. I was hired to review municipal renovation expenses.""
"That doesn't give you permission to access restricted security systems.""
"I didn't.""
Brooks opened the folder and removed a photograph.
It showed Marcus standing outside a municipal storage facility.
A red circle had been drawn around his face.
"This was taken three weeks ago.""
Marcus stared at it.
He recognized the location.
It was the building where he'd inspected missing security equipment.
But something was wrong.
The photograph showed him holding a small black device.
He had never held that device.
"That's been altered," Marcus said.
Brooks raised an eyebrow.
"Convenient.""
Angela took the photograph.
"Where did you obtain this?""
"Evidence recovered during an internal security review.""
"Who authorized the review?""
"Deputy Commissioner Vaughn.""
Angela slowly placed the photograph on the table.
"Of course he did.""
Brooks closed the folder.
"Commissioner, I suggest you remove yourself from this situation. Your involvement could create serious complications.""
Angela stepped so close that Brooks had to straighten his shoulders.
"Let me explain something, Detective. I have spent thirty years in this department. I know the difference between an investigation and a manufactured prosecution.""
"Are you accusing me of misconduct?""
"I'm telling you to be careful about whose instructions you follow.""
Brooks's expression tightened.
Then his eyes moved toward Marcus's phone.
"Is that the device containing the original financial records?""
Marcus immediately picked it up.
"No.""
Brooks extended his hand.
"Mr. Carter, I need you to surrender that phone as evidence.""
"No warrant, no consent.""
Brooks looked toward Angela.
"Commissioner?""
"He's correct.""
The detective slowly lowered his hand.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Brooks smiled.
It wasn't a friendly smile.
"Fine. We'll do this another way.""
He turned toward the door.
Before leaving, he looked over his shoulder.
"Mr. Carter, I would strongly advise you to think about your daughter. These investigations can become unpleasant.""
Angela's voice cut through the room.
"Detective Brooks.""
He stopped.
"Repeat what you just said.""
Brooks blinked.
"I said the investigation could become unpleasant.""
"No. The part about his daughter.""
The detective stared at her.
"I was expressing concern.""
"Get out.""
He left without another word.
Angela immediately locked the door.
Marcus looked at her.
"That man knows something.""
"Yes.""
"He knew about the card.""
"And he knew about the documents.""
Marcus rubbed his face.
"How many people are involved in this?""
Angela didn't answer.
Instead, she picked up his phone.
"Your attorney sent a video?""
Marcus nodded.
"Yes. He said it shows who gave Miller my photograph.""
Angela placed the phone on the bedside table.
"Let's watch it.""
The footage began with a timestamp.
11:47 p.m.
Marcus's office building.
A dark sedan pulled into the parking lot.
A man stepped out.
He wore a baseball cap and carried a small black case.
He entered the building using a key.
Marcus leaned forward.
"That's not the security guard.""
The man disappeared down the hallway.
A few minutes later, he reappeared carrying a folder.
Then another person entered the frame.
A tall man in a dark blue suit.
Marcus stopped breathing.
It was the same man Patricia had described at Centennial Park.
The man who had handed Miller the photograph.
Angela paused the video.
"Do you recognize him?""
Marcus stared at the screen.
"Yes.""
"Who is he?""
Marcus swallowed.
"That's Deputy Commissioner Vaughn's chief of staff.""
Angela looked at the frozen image.
Then the video continued.
The second man leaned toward the camera.
For a moment, his face was clearly visible.
He looked directly into the lens.
And smiled.
Angela felt a chill run down her spine.
Because she recognized what he was holding.
It wasn't a folder.
It was the original evidence drive Marcus had reported missing.
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And attached to it was a small white label.
*INTERNAL AFFAIRS — ROBERT HAYES.*
