Lena searched the payment records and found recurring charges from Sloan Integrated Systems labeled "analytics support," "system optimization," and "infrastructure maintenance." None listed an outside data recipient.
The federal technician opened another transfer manifest. "This one contains plate searches tied to individual vehicles."
Maya asked, "Requested by Asheford personnel?"
"I'm checking." He compared the search records against departmental case numbers. Several legitimate law enforcement queries matched active cases; others did not. "There are searches with no case reference, no incident number, and no user request from Asheford."
Rebecca frowned. "Could Calvin's technicians have run test queries?"
"Testing would not require weeks of location history for the same plate." Maya asked him to preserve the examples without drawing conclusions about the purpose.
Another agent entered the hidden server room carrying a preliminary ownership report: "We traced two of the external endpoints. They're commercial data services registered outside the municipal network. Neither appears on Asheford's approved vendor list."
Mercer looked at the report. "Commercial data services could mean anything."
"That's why we keep investigating," Maya said.
Rebecca crossed her arms. "You're making it sound like my brother was selling police records."
Maya faced her. "I haven't said that."
"You don't have to."
"No, Lieutenant. I do have to. If I accuse someone, I need evidence that supports the accusation."
Rebecca stopped.
Maya pointed to the monitor: "Right now, we know city surveillance data left an undocumented server and went to third-party commercial endpoints. We know the transfers are not listed in the approved contracts we've reviewed. That is what we can prove."
Lena opened a folder containing administrative notes connected to the traffic camera system. "I remember asking about some of these exports."
"When?" Maya asked.
"A few months ago. I saw unusually large network traffic overnight."
"Who did you ask?"
"Calvin first. He said it was system optimization."
"And after that?"
"I asked the Chief's office whether we had added an off-site analytics provider."
Mercer looked at her. "I don't remember that conversation."
"It was an email."
"Then find it."
Lena searched her archived mail. The message appeared: she had written that external traffic volume from the surveillance environment was higher than expected and asked whether a new outside service had been approved. The reply came from an administrative account in Mercer's office: Authorized vendor activity. No action required.
Maya asked, "Did you write this?"