"It doesn't use the security archive for storage," Vanessa finished. "The video can disappear from the main system without disappearing from the event recorder."
Eli looked up from the diagnostic screen. "She's right about the equipment. The event department has its own recorder. I helped them connect it last month."
Sloan's hand went to his access card. "That system is not intended for security investigations."
"No one said it was," Torres replied. "But it may contain relevant evidence. We'll ask the event manager to preserve it and arrange a supervised review."
"You'll need authorization from mall management."
"Then we'll get it."
Vanessa checked her phone for Lena's number. Sloan saw the movement and stepped toward her. "Ms. Cole, that system has privacy restrictions. You shouldn't contact our employees directly about footage."
"I was working with Lena before you became involved," Vanessa said. "And I already asked her not to overwrite the rehearsal files."
Sloan stared. "When?"
"When your officer walked me past the stage in handcuffs."
His expression lost its practiced composure for an instant. He looked at Harlan, then back at the phone in Vanessa's hand. There had been a backup within reach of the entire confrontation, and the woman he had tried to remove from the premises was the one who knew where it was.
Torres called the mall's general manager, Olivia Park, whose office overlooked the western courtyard. Olivia had spent much of the afternoon preparing to welcome donors and had been told only that police were handling a minor disturbance. When Torres described a potentially wrongful detention and missing surveillance footage, Olivia asked for the facts in the careful, practical tone of someone who understood the cost of deciding too early.
Within minutes, she arrived at the security office. She was a compact woman in a charcoal suit with silver earrings and a folder of event permits under one arm. She greeted Vanessa by name, which made Sloan shift uncomfortably in his chair. Olivia had met Vanessa during fundraiser planning and had personally approved the event's use of the atrium.
"Vanessa, I heard there was some trouble," Olivia said. Her eyes moved to the red marks on Vanessa's wrists. "I'm sorry. Are you hurt?"
"I'm all right. We need to preserve the event recordings before anyone makes further changes."
Olivia turned toward Torres. "What do you need from us?"
"Cooperation with a review of a specific recording, preservation of the original files, and a written account of who accessed each system. I'd like the material secured before playback."
"Agreed," Olivia said. She looked at Sloan. "Derek, you will give our IT contractor whatever access is necessary. You are not to log into either archive again until the review is complete."
Sloan opened his mouth. "Olivia, this is my department."
"It's my responsibility to make sure the department operates properly. Step away."
For the first time since Vanessa had entered the security office, Derek Sloan had no one left to persuade. The store had contradicted him. His own employee had contradicted him. The police lieutenant was examining his access records. Now the mall's general manager was ordering him to stand aside. He looked toward the door and saw Marcus watching without expression.