Chapter 13 The Missing File

Adrian held the reassignment order in his hand for a few moments after the records clerk finished speaking.

"There really isn't anything under that name?" he asked.

The clerk shook his head.

"I've searched every personnel category available to us."

Adrian lowered his eyes to the document again.

Everything about it looked legitimate.

He looked back at the clerk.

"Could the record have been archived somewhere else?"

The clerk shrugged.

"If you mean another police command, it's possible. But if Detective Arthur Cole served in this department, there should still be a personnel record."

"Even if he died years ago?"

"Yes."

Adrian was quiet for a moment.

"What happens when an officer retires or dies?"

"The file is archived."

"And if someone transfers?"

"The record stays. We update the posting, but we don't delete the officer."

Adrian nodded slowly.

"So personnel records aren't removed."

"No."

The answer came without hesitation.

"They're retained permanently."

Adrian rested the reassignment order on the counter.

"Who manages those records?"

"The Records Administration Unit."

"Here?"

The clerk nodded.

"They're on the floor above us."

Adrian thanked him and picked up the document.

As he turned to leave, the clerk called after him.

"Detective."

Adrian stopped.

"If you're looking for information that isn't in our database, Records Administration is the only place that might be able to help."

"I appreciate it."

He left the archive without another word.

The conversation had answered one question.

Arthur Cole's records hadn't vanished with time.

Personnel files were kept permanently.

If his file was gone, someone had removed it.

Adrian climbed the stairs to the Records Administration Unit.

Rows of filing cabinets lined one wall, while several staff members worked quietly behind computer screens.

A woman seated behind the reception desk looked up as he approached.

"Good afternoon, Detective."

"Good afternoon."

He placed the reassignment order on the counter.

"I need some help locating a personnel file."

She glanced at the document before asking,

"Current officer or former officer?"

"Former."

She nodded and entered the name into her computer.

A few seconds later, she frowned slightly.

"I'm not getting a result."

"I've already checked with the archives," Adrian said. "They suggested I speak to your office."

Without commenting, she picked up the telephone and made a brief call.

A minute later, an older man stepped out of an office at the back.

"You needed assistance, Detective?"

Adrian handed him the reassignment order.

"I'm trying to locate Detective Arthur Cole's personnel file."

The administrator adjusted his glasses and read the document from beginning to end.

"It's an original," he said quietly, handing it back.

"That's what I thought."

He walked over to another computer terminal and logged into a different system from the one used at the front desk.

The room remained quiet except for the sound of keys tapping beneath his fingers.

After searching for several moments, he stopped.

"No personnel file."

Adrian wasn't surprised.

"What about archived records?"

The administrator entered another search.

Again, nothing.

He leaned back slightly.

"The name isn't attached to any active or archived personnel record."

Adrian considered that for a moment before asking his next question.

"If a file was removed from the archive, would there be a record of it?"

The administrator looked at him.

"There should be."

"Can you check?"

He gave a small nod and turned back to the computer.

Adrian waited in silence as another search began.

The administrator worked quietly for several minutes, moving from one database to another.

Adrian watched without speaking.

Finally, the man stopped typing.

"I can't search by the officer's name," he said.

"There's no personnel record attached to it."

Adrian nodded.

"What else can you search?"

"The archive reference."

He picked up the reassignment order again and studied it more carefully.

His eyes paused near the bottom of the page.

"There it is."

He entered a string of numbers into the system.

This time, a record appeared.

The administrator read the screen silently before clicking it open.

Adrian waited.

"What does it say?"

The man adjusted his glasses.

"It lists an archive reference."

"Which is?"

"Personnel Archive Box 146."

Adrian felt a flicker of relief.

"So the file does exist."

The administrator didn't answer immediately.

Instead, he continued reading.

His expression never changed.

"The archive status is listed as..."

He paused briefly.

"Removed."

Adrian frowned.

"Removed?"

"That's what it says."

"Where was it moved?"

The administrator scrolled further down the page.

"There isn't a destination."

"Who authorized it?"

Another pause.

"No name."

"What about the date?"

The administrator shook his head.

"There's no date either."

Adrian looked at the monitor.

The entry was remarkably short.

Personnel Archive Box 146

Status: Removed

Nothing else.

Adrian thanked the administrator, folded the reassignment order and slipped it back into its envelope.

He had come looking for Arthur Cole's personnel file but he had found something far more troubling.

Had someone removed the records themselves.

By the time he reached the corridor, it had grown noticeably quieter. Most of the detectives who had filled the offices earlier had already gone home.

Only then did Adrian realize how late it had become.

As he rounded the corner toward his office, Officer Mills stepped out of the records room carrying a small stack of files.

"Detective."

"Mills."

Adrian slowed his pace.

"Walk with me."

Without asking why, Mills fell into step beside him. They walked the rest of the way in silence.

Adrian unlocked his office and held the door open.

"Come in."

He switched on the light, set his case folder on the desk and turned to Mills.

"I need you to look into someone."

"Who?"

Adrian picked up a notepad and wrote a single name.

Arthur Cole.

He tore off the page and handed it over.

"I want you to search outside our personnel system."

Mills studied the name.

"What exactly am I looking for?"

"Anything that proves he existed. Old newspaper articles, court records, academy graduation lists, commendations, public records. If his name appears anywhere, I want to know."

Mills looked up.

"Was he a detective?"

"I believe so."

"You believe?"

"I've spent all afternoon trying to find his personnel file."

"And?"

"There isn't one."

Mills frowned.

"Maybe the name's wrong."

"Maybe."

Adrian shook his head slightly.

"But until I know otherwise, I want every independent reference you can find."

Mills folded the note and slipped it into his notebook.

"I'll start first thing tomorrow morning."

"Good. You could even start tonight."

"And keep this between us."

"You have my word."

Mills gave a single nod and headed for the door.

"Have a good evening, Detective."

"You too."

The door clicked shut behind him.

Alone again, Adrian's eyes drifted to the wall safe.

Arthur Cole had been erased from the department's records.

Tomorrow, Adrian intended to find out whether someone had erased him from history as well.