Chapter 4 - The Memorial Vote
The fund charter required a public command review before dissolution.
At least thirty uniformed witnesses had to attend.
A deceased contributor had to be honored.
And the commanding captain had to certify that all unresolved claims had been closed.
Harris had used Emily’s memorial to satisfy every condition.
Her portrait gathered the witnesses.
Her badge represented a closed claim.
Her disappearance allowed him to certify that the last internal objection no longer existed.
Maya stared at him.
“You planned to dissolve the fund tonight.”
Harris kept his voice controlled.
“The city can manage survivor assistance more efficiently.”
“By selling the assets?”
“The condos are underperforming.”
Emily laughed bitterly.
“They were purchased with widow benefits.”
Harris looked at her.
“You are a junior officer interpreting complex municipal finance.”
There it was again.
Not evidence.
Rank.
Emily’s position became his argument because the numbers were no longer helping him.
She opened the proposed dissolution agreement.
After the fund closed, its remaining properties would transfer to a private investment partnership.
Harris owned twelve percent.
The retired deputy chief owned eighteen.
The mayor’s family trust controlled the rest.
Reed turned toward Harris.
“You were going to profit from officers’ death benefits.”
Harris’s face tightened.
“I was modernizing an outdated program.”
Maya pointed toward Emily’s memorial portrait.
“You declared a living officer dead to complete the vote.”
“She was missing.”
“You knew where she was.”
Harris said nothing.
Emily looked toward Reed.
“You signed the preliminary closure.”
His face fell.
He remembered the packet.
Harris placed it on his desk between shift briefings and told him it updated survivor-benefit procedures.
Reed signed without reading the final attachment.
Emily’s voice softened.
“You helped him.”
Reed closed his eyes.
“Yes.”
That admission hurt the room more than denial.
May you like
Then Maya found another signature.
Her own.
