Chapter 4: The Department That Turned Against Me
The alarm stopped after thirty seconds.
But the damage was already done.
Thirty seconds was all it took.
Thirty seconds for every officer in the building to see Marcus Reed’s name appear on every security monitor.
Thirty seconds for whispers to start.
Thirty seconds for a story to form.
And stories inside a police department traveled faster than facts.
Marcus stood frozen in the records room, staring at the screen.
*OFFICER MARCUS REED — INTERNAL THREAT ALERT ACTIVATED*
The words looked unreal.
Like something from a nightmare.
Lena stepped closer to the monitor.
“This doesn’t make sense.””
Marcus didn’t answer.
Because deep down, he knew exactly what this was.
Someone wasn’t trying to investigate him.
They were trying to isolate him.
Turn him into the problem.
Make every person wearing the same uniform look at him differently.
Footsteps thundered through the hallway.
Multiple officers.
Marcus looked at Dr. Carter.
“What did you bring me?””
The former investigator’s expression remained calm.
“The truth.””
“That doesn’t answer my question.””
“It will.””
Marcus clenched his jaw.
“People are about to walk in here and arrest me.””
Dr. Carter looked at the flashing monitor.
“No.””
Marcus frowned.
“No?””
“They won’t arrest you.””
“Why not?””
“Because they don’t need to.””
The older man looked at him.
“They already made everyone believe you’re guilty.””
The door burst open.
Four officers entered with weapons drawn.
“Marcus Reed!””
Nobody moved.
The sound of his own name felt strange.
Not like recognition.
Like an accusation.
Officer James Holloway, one of the department’s newer supervisors, stepped forward.
“Step away from the desk.””
Marcus slowly raised his hands.
“I’m not doing anything.””
Holloway’s eyes moved toward the monitor.
“You’re under an internal security investigation.””
“For what?””
“You know the procedure.””
“No, I don’t.””
Holloway hesitated.
For a moment, Marcus saw uncertainty in his face.
Then it disappeared.
That bothered him.
Because it meant someone had already given orders.
“Marcus,” Lena said quietly.
He looked at her.
Her expression said everything.
Don’t fight this.
Not here.
Marcus nodded.
“I’m cooperating.””
Holloway lowered his weapon slightly.
“Good.””
Marcus stepped away.
Then he looked at Dr. Carter.
The older man was still standing there.
Calm.
Too calm.
One of the officers noticed him.
“Who are you?””
Dr. Carter didn’t answer.
Holloway looked at him.
Then his face changed.
“You.””
The room went quiet.
Marcus noticed.
“You know him?””
Holloway stared.
“He shouldn’t be here.””
Dr. Carter smiled slightly.
“That’s usually what people say when they don’t want someone asking questions.””
Holloway stepped forward.
“Samuel Carter, you were told never to return to this building.””
Marcus looked at him.
“Told by who?””
Nobody answered.
That was the answer.
Marcus felt the pieces moving.
The missing evidence.
The forged reports.
The deleted footage.
Dr. Carter’s disappearance.
They were all connected.
Holloway looked at the officers.
“Take Reed to interview room three.””
Marcus almost laughed.
Interview room three.
The same room where Mercer attacked him.
The same room where everything started.
“No,” Marcus said.
The officers stopped.
Holloway looked at him.
“No?””
“You’re taking me somewhere with no cameras?””
Holloway’s expression hardened.
“It has cameras.””
Marcus shook his head.
“No. Not anymore.””
The room went silent.
Because everyone understood what he meant.
The missing forty-seven minutes.
The deleted footage.
The blind spot.
Holloway stared at him.
Then said:
“Take him.””
Two officers moved closer.
Marcus didn’t resist.
He walked out of the records room with his hands visible.
But as he passed Lena, she quietly whispered:
“Your flash drive.””
Marcus looked at her.
She subtly pointed.
The envelope was still in his jacket pocket.
She had noticed.
Good.
At least someone was thinking.
Interview room three looked exactly the same.
The same table.
The same chairs.
The same camera in the corner.
Marcus sat down.
Five minutes passed.
Then ten.
Nobody entered.
That bothered him.
Investigations had procedures.
Questions.
Statements.
Evidence reviews.
This was different.
This was waiting.
Someone wanted him uncomfortable.
The door finally opened.
Marcus expected Holloway.
Instead, Deputy Chief Thomas Vale walked in.
For the first time in twelve years, Marcus felt like he didn’t know the man standing in front of him.
Vale closed the door.
No officers.
No recorder.
Just the two of them.
“Marcus.””
The familiar voice almost hurt.
Because it sounded exactly the same.
Calm.
Supportive.
Like the man who once believed in him.
Marcus stared.
“You approved the report.””
Vale didn’t react.
Not even slightly.
That was worse than anger.
“You saw it.””
“Yes.””
“And?””
“And it’s fake.””
Vale sighed.
“Marcus, you don’t understand what’s happening.””
“Then explain it.””
“I can’t.””
The answer shocked him.
“You can’t?””
Vale sat down.
“I’m trying to protect you.””
Marcus laughed quietly.
“By destroying my career?””
“That report wasn’t supposed to reach you.””
Marcus leaned forward.
“Whose idea was it?””
Vale looked away.
That was enough.
Marcus felt something break inside.
“You knew.””
“I knew there was a plan.””
“And you let it happen?””
Vale looked back.
“I tried to stop it.””
“Did you?””
Silence.
Marcus shook his head.
“No.””
Vale’s expression changed.
Not guilt.
Something closer to fear.
“Marcus, you need to leave this alone.””
There it was.
The sentence everyone kept saying.
Walk away.
Stop asking questions.
Pretend nothing happened.
Marcus stared at him.
“Who are you afraid of?””
Vale didn’t answer.
“Thomas.””
Still nothing.
“Who?””
Vale leaned closer.
His voice dropped.
“There are people in this department who don’t answer to the chief.””
Marcus felt a chill.
“What does that mean?””
“It means power doesn’t always sit in the highest office.””
Marcus looked at him.
“Then where does it sit?””
Vale’s eyes moved toward the camera.
Just for a second.
But Marcus saw it.
Someone was watching.
Someone was listening.
Vale stood.
“You need to forget about the report.””
“No.””
Vale stopped.
Marcus continued.
“You taught me better than that.””
For the first time, pain crossed Vale’s face.
“I taught you because I thought you were strong enough to survive.””
“Survive what?””
Vale didn’t answer.
He reached the door.
Then Marcus noticed something.
A small movement.
Vale’s hand touched the side of his jacket.
Like he was leaving something behind.
After he left, Marcus waited.
Ten seconds.
Twenty.
Then he looked down.
A small folded piece of paper sat near the edge of the table.
He opened it.
Only one sentence was written.
*The evidence room was never compromised. The evidence was moved.*
Marcus stared.
Then another line appeared beneath it.
A location.
A time.
And a name.
His heartbeat increased.
Because the name written at the bottom wasn’t Thomas Vale.
It wasn’t Daniel Mercer.
It wasn’t anyone he expected.
It was:
*Captain Elaine Carter.*
Marcus stopped breathing.
The door suddenly opened.
Officer Holloway stepped inside.
“You’re done.””
Marcus quickly folded the paper.
Holloway looked at him.
“What did you find?””
Marcus said nothing.
Holloway stared for a moment too long.
Then smiled.
Not a friendly smile.
A knowing one.
“I was hoping you’d ask that question.””
Marcus felt the room become colder.
“Why?””
Holloway closed the door behind him.
“Because now I know you’re exactly where they wanted you.””
Marcus stared.
“Who is they?””
Holloway walked closer.
May you like
And whispered:
“The people who have been watching you since the day you put on that badge.””
