Carson pulled up the full file. The break-in had happened before Avery moved to Nora’s building. Different location. But the pattern was similar—things moved, feeling watched, no physical evidence.
He checked the evidence log. Items collected from the scene had been sent to the lab, but results were never entered into the system.
That was odd. Even negative results should be logged.
Carson called down to the evidence room. “Hey, it’s Detective Black. I need to check on evidence from case number 2021-4756. Home invasion, victim Avery Shone.”
“Hold on.” Keys clicking. “Um, Detective? That evidence is listed as destroyed.”
His brows lowered. “Destroyed? Why?”
“Says here it was water damaged in a leak three years ago. No usable evidence recovered.”
That didn’t make sense. The evidence room was climate controlled. Leaks were rare and well-documented.
“Can you check when it was destroyed? And who authorized it?”
More typing. “Destroyed on...May 15, 2022. Authorized by Captain Ray Shaw.”
Carson froze. “Say that name again.”
“Captain Ray Shaw. He was head of the department before Captain Holloway. Retired about five years ago.”
Shaw. Carson remembered him vaguely—older cop, close to retirement when Carson was just starting out. Competent. Professional. Nothing remarkable.
So why had he destroyed evidence in a case that was still open?
Carson made a note to follow up on it. Probably nothing—administrative error, miscommunication, legitimate reasons. But something about it nagged at him.
He set the file aside and moved on to others.
But throughout the day, his mind kept circling back to that destroyed evidence. To Captain Shaw’s name on the authorization form.
To the pattern of things not quite adding up.
Carson called Nora at lunch like he’d promised.
“Hey. How’s your first day back?” she asked.
“Good. Boring desk work, but good. How’s the business planning going?”
“I’ve made three spreadsheets and started a business plan. Very productive.”
“That’s my girl. Queen of spreadsheets.” He smiled, feeling genuinely happy despite the stress of the day.
“How’s the station? Everyone treating you okay?”
“Yeah. Lots of questions about you, but I shut those down pretty quick.” He glanced around the break room, making sure he was alone. “I miss you.”
“You saw me four hours ago.”
“I know. Still miss you.”
“I miss you too.” Her voice softened. “Hurry home tonight. I’m making dinner.”
“You don’t have to—”
“I want to. It’s our first real dinner in our place. I’m making it special.”
