"Do it correctly," he said. "Preserve my workstation, login tokens, mobile devices, entry-card records, hotel security, every server log, everything. I want a forensic comparison of the live database against any immutable backup or audit copy."
Hayes nodded. "Already requested."
"And do not let anyone from Voss's normal chain administer the forensic pull."
"Agreed."
Marcus removed his department credentials next. For the first time since dawn on his first day, he felt genuinely vulnerable. A traffic stop was simple compared with this. On the roadside, he could see the man threatening him. Here, a few altered lines in a database could make twenty-three years of work look dishonest.
He left the captain's office at 7:41 carrying only his personal phone, wallet, keys, and a paper notebook. The operations floor went quiet again. Marcus did not offer an explanation. He had almost reached the lobby when Reigns stepped into his path.
"Feeling different today?"
Marcus stopped. Reigns's tone was low enough that nearby officers could hear without pretending the exchange was public.
"Yesterday you were the big reform captain. Today you don't even have a keycard."
Marcus said nothing.
"You know what your problem is?" Reigns continued. "You came in thinking paperwork was power. Records can say whatever the people running the system need them to say."
That sentence was reckless. Marcus looked at him carefully.
"Is that how you think records work?"
Reigns realized what he had implied and changed direction.
"I'm saying computers aren't magic. Mistakes happen."
"They do."
"Maybe you made one. Maybe you got excited about destroying a couple careers and started moving files around."
"Forensics will answer that."
Reigns smiled. "Sure." Sergeant Voss approached from behind him.
"Derek, that's enough."
His words sounded disciplinary, but his eyes never left Marcus.
"Captain," Voss said, placing emphasis on the title as if it might already be temporary, "nobody wants this department torn apart. If the review finds this was all a misunderstanding, maybe everybody can step back before more reputations get damaged."
"If the review is honest, I'll accept what it finds."
"And if it isn't what you want?"
"Then I'll accept the evidence anyway."