"Seven in this section. There may be more in the locked cage."
"Open it."
Frank unlocked a wire mesh storage enclosure at the back of the annex. More equipment sat inside. One federal agent began reading serial numbers while another checked them against the invoices.
After several minutes, the pattern became clear: the city had paid for equipment that its own records described as installed and operational, but a substantial portion of that equipment had never left storage long enough to enter service.
Mercer studied the sealed boxes. "There could be a legitimate explanation. The vendor may have replaced units with equivalent equipment."
Maya looked at him. "Then there will be substitution records."
"And if there aren't?"
"Then we document that, too."
Rebecca folded her arms. "You keep saying 'document.' At some point, you're going to have to tell us what you think happened."
"No," Maya said. "At some point, the evidence will tell us."
A federal agent opened the procurement folder. "Agent Williams, the final payment was released after the completion certification signed by Chief Mercer for departmental acceptance. Vendor certification by Calvin Sloan."
Rebecca spoke before Mercer could respond: "My brother handled the company. I didn't handle billing."
Maya looked at the security certification attached to the project. "You signed that contractor access to the restricted installation areas was completed according to schedule."
"That's right."
"Were you present for every installation period?"
"No. My staff handled some of them."
"Then we'll need the duty roster."
Rebecca's jaw tightened, but she nodded.
Maya turned to Frank. "Was any of this equipment ever taken out of its packaging here?"
"Not that I saw."
"How long have you worked municipal facilities?"
"Twenty-two years."
"And you're certain?"
Frank looked at the sealed pallets again. "I know what opened shipping bands look like. Those haven't been cut."
Maya asked the photographer to capture the seals in close detail. A single body camera was visible through clear packaging near the top of one carton. The contract said hundreds of similar units had already been placed in service. Maya checked the serial number against the delivery list; it appeared on the city's completed installation inventory.
She handed the sheet to Mercer. "This unit is listed as active."
Mercer examined the number twice. "That may be a clerical error."
"One could be." Maya pointed toward the rest of the pallet. "We're going to find out whether all of them are."