Chapter 16 - Smoke in the Records Room
I smelled smoke before we reached the security desk. Naomi had taken Jo back into the infirmary and ordered staff to remain with her. Through the corridor window, I saw firefighters entering the annex with breathing gear while alarm lights painted the ceiling red.
"Nobody goes in," a captain told Naomi. "There's an electrical fire."
"Who reported it?"
"Officer Brant."
Of course it was Brant. The man who had delivered the blanket, attacked Jo, and called Marr before calling for help.
"The records will be gone," I said.
"Not all of them," Naomi answered. "The delivery system creates a second copy outside this building. HalePoint told your defense attorney those backups didn't exist. We subpoenaed their hosting provider this morning."
The fire crew emerged carrying a blackened wastebasket. The damage was small, contained beside a cabinet of signed paper manifests.
Naomi opened her evidence log. "Officer Brant was seen entering the annex at 2:06. Fire alarm activated at 2:11. Lt. Pike checked out the cabinet key at 1:58."
"He'll say coincidence."
"Then we'll let the evidence answer."
At five that afternoon Beth came back, bringing a court-appointed attorney for me and a folder of preservation orders. She pressed my fingers through the visitation window.
"Nora Bell's attorney called," she said. "Nora is ready to testify under oath."
"What changed?"
"She saw the pictures of Jo in the hospital. She said Mina warned her this would happen."
Beth looked down at the folder. "Lena, we found the original version of the statement used against you. It contains an instruction in the margin."
"What instruction?"
May you like
Beth swallowed. "Use Mercer. She knows the system and won't have anyone powerful to fight for her."
The instruction was initialed E.M.—Elise Marr.
