Chapter 5 - Maya’s Name
Maya stared at the document.
“I never signed this.”
The electronic authorization came from her office computer.
It certified that Emily’s disappearance showed no evidence of departmental misconduct.
Harris looked almost relieved.
“Perhaps your own investigation cleared me.”
Maya examined the timestamp.
The approval had been submitted while she was testifying in court.
Someone used her credentials.
Only three people had administrative access to her terminal.
Her assistant.
The station technology officer.
And Captain Harris.
Harris shook his head.
“Many people could have obtained that password.”
Emily looked at Maya.
“He asked me for your access code two months ago.”
“Why?”
“He said your case-management system needed an emergency update.”
Maya remembered.
She had refused.
Harris later ordered the technology officer to reset it.
The room’s attention shifted toward the station’s command structure.
Harris had not simply hidden Emily.
He had built paperwork making every subordinate appear complicit.
If the fraud surfaced, he could point to Reed’s signature.
Maya’s authorization.
The finance clerk’s reports.
The city attorney’s review.
Responsibility had been pushed downward while profit traveled upward.
Emily opened another archive box.
Inside were disciplinary files for employees who questioned the survivor fund.
A dispatcher was dismissed for time-sheet irregularities after asking why her deceased sister’s children received nothing.
A patrol officer was transferred after requesting the fund’s property records.
A civilian accountant was labeled disruptive and denied promotion.
Harris looked toward the uniformed officers.
“These were legitimate personnel matters.”
Emily held up the files.
“No.”
“They were warnings.”
Then Maya found her own name on a draft disciplinary notice.
The allegation:
May you like
Excessive loyalty to subordinate personnel.
Harris had prepared to remove her next.
