You do. Mercer looked down at the report. Keane continued. Do not start changing your account because a lawyer found a technical code she likes. Mercer nodded but without confidence.
Back at the firm, Lena saved the original metadata production in a protected evidence folder. Denise watched her. That little beep outside the courthouse. Lena nodded. It matters now.
Maya looked at the manual stop entry on the screen. Mercer had controlled the camera for only a moment. The system had preserved the fact that he did. Lena began with the courthouse exterior cameras. The footage showed the courier approaching from the south side of the plaza, stopping only long enough to hand Maya the charcoal case, then leaving by the same route.
His face was visible in several frames, but the gray uniform carried no readable company name. Denise stood behind Lena's chair as the video played again. He knew exactly where to find us. Yes, Lena said, and he didn't enter the courthouse before or after the delivery. Maya looked at the screen.
Can we identify the scanner he used? I'm working on it. Lena isolated the clearest frame showing the handheld device. The image was not sharp enough to read the entire label, but part of a serial marker was visible along the lower edge. She sent the image to Nolan.
His response came later that morning. The scanner model was common among regional courier services, but the partial serial number narrowed the search. After several records, requests, and calls, Lena found a match connected to Grey Line Legal Courier Services, a small company that handled document delivery for law firms, insurance offices, and corporate clients around Riverton. Maya called Grey Line directly. A woman in operations answered.
"We need to verify a delivery made outside Franklin County Courthouse earlier this week. " Maya said she gave the date and described the courier. The woman checked the company system. We don't show a scheduled delivery under your name. Could it have been subcontracted? Possibly.
You have a tracking number. No. That's part of the problem. Lena sent over still images from the security footage. The woman called back less than an hour later.
That uniform is one of ours. Or at least it was. The scanner is ours, too. Denise leaned closer to the speaker phone. Was the man your employee?
Not currently. Who is he? There was a pause while the woman checked another record. Simon Vale. He worked temporary roots for us.
When? Several months ago. He was never full-time. What happened to the uniform and scanner? That's what I'm trying to figure out.
The scanner was marked missing after his contract ended. We also had two uniform sets that were never returned. Maya looked at Lena. Do you have contact information for Mr. Veil?
Grey Line would not release it without formal process, but the name was enough. By the afternoon, Lena had located Simon through public business records. He operated as an independent delivery contractor and occasionally accepted private transportation jobs for law offices and investigation firms. One detail stood out. Simon had previously performed subcontract work for a private investigation company that had been retained by outside council working for Apex Meridian.
Denise read the record over Lena's shoulder. That's Voss. It points in his direction, Lena said. It points directly at him. Maya remained cautious.
It points too directly. Denise looked at her. You think someone planted the connection? I think Adrien Voss has spent too many years protecting corporate clients to hire a courier whose work history leads back to him. After one record search, so what do you want to do?
Talk to Simon? They did not contact him through the office. Maya asked an investigator used by the firm to reach out and request a voluntary meeting concerning the courthouse delivery. Simon agreed. They met the following afternoon at a coffee shop outside downtown Riverton.
Simon Vale was 38 and dressed in work pants and a dark jacket. He looked uncomfortable when he saw three women waiting at the table. You're Maya Williams? Yes. His eyes moved to Denise and Lena.
I didn't know who you were when I delivered that case. Maya gestured toward the empty chair. Sit down. Simon did. Denise spoke first.
Did someone tell you to wear the Grey Line uniform? Simon nodded. The job required neutral courier clothing. I still had an old set. And the scanner?
Same thing. You knew it wasn't registered for current Grey Line work? Yes. Maya kept her tone neutral. Who hired you?
A private booking service. Name? Simon gave it to them. Lena wrote it down. Did you know what you were carrying?
No. Did you open the case? No. Were you told the recipient? Yes.
Maya Williams. Direct delivery only. Were you told why? No. Were you told to avoid questions?
Simon looked embarrassed. I was told not to discuss the sender. Denise asked. How much were you paid? Simon named an amount well above an ordinary courthouse delivery fee.
That didn't bother you? She asked. It did, but you took the job. Simon nodded. I take contract work where I can get it.
He looked at Maya. I'm not trying to make excuses. I have a mortgage, insurance, and bills like everyone else. The instructions weren't illegal. Deliver a sealed case.
Don't open it. Hand it to one person. I've done stranger jobs. Maya did not press him on that point. Where did you get the case?
Parking structure on Jefferson. From whom? I don't know her name. A woman. Yes.