Frank rose from his chair.
He was not a physically imposing man because of his height or volume.
His authority came from the certainty with which he occupied a room.
When he stood, the commanders straightened almost instinctively.
“Deputy Mayor Hale,” he said, “did you alter evidence involving one of my officers?”
“I improved the public’s understanding of a dangerous encounter.”
The answer stunned even Levin.
Baker watched Hale realize too late what he had admitted.
Frank’s voice became colder.
“You removed the portion that showed the threat.”
“The public does not need every second of raw footage.
It needs clarity.”
“You did not provide clarity.
You created a lie.”
Hale struck the table with his palm.
“I created leverage.
This city is tired of the Reagan family treating the department like a private inheritance.
You refuse oversight, you embarrass elected officials, and you hide behind tradition whenever anyone challenges you.”
Frank did not react to the attack on his family.
“So you were willing to destroy Detective Ortega to reach me.”
“One officer’s career is not more important than reform.”
A commander near the window turned away in disgust.
Baker thought of Ortega sitting alone in an interview room downstairs.
He had surrendered his shield that morning while an internal review began.
His wife had called twice, asking whether he would be arrested.
His twelve-year-old son had already seen strangers online call his father a criminal.
Hale had treated all of that as leverage.
Baker reached into the folder and removed one final document.
“There is another problem,” she said.
Hale gave her a bitter smile.
“Of course there is.”
“The reporters who received the edited clip were sent an anonymous note claiming Detective Ortega had a history of disciplinary complaints.”
“Perhaps he did.”
“He did not.
The complaint numbers in the note belong to three different officers.”
She placed the document before Frank.
“All three officers refused requests from the deputy mayor’s office to provide political security services outside department rules.”
Frank scanned the names.
Baker continued.
“Someone accessed their sealed personnel records before the anonymous note was sent.
The access came from the same terminal used to alter Ortega’s report.”
Ross added, “That expands the investigation beyond evidence tampering.
We are also examining unlawful access to personnel files, retaliation, obstruction, and misuse of public resources.”
Hale sat down heavily.
His silver briefcase remained at his feet.
Marquez looked at it.
“We need the case opened.”
“No.”
“It is city property and falls under the preservation order.”
“It contains privileged material.”
Ross handed him the order.
“You may read the scope.”
Hale did not take it.
Frank looked at Baker.
She understood the question without him asking.
