Chapter 10 - THE SEARCH EVELYN PUSHED TOO FAST
Evelyn was no longer supposed to run the obstruction investigation.
She still saw the evidence summaries because the conduct affected Harbor Point.
That distinction became hard to maintain.
When the bureau Wi-Fi result came in, she walked straight into Mara’s office.
“We need Price’s devices.”
Mara looked up.
“We have preservation.”
“Not enough.”
“Internal Affairs is handling it.”
“He has access to sealed material.”
“Yes.”
“He could wipe—”
“Stop.”
Evelyn did.
Mara continued.
“You are not investigating Nolan.”
“He worked my case.”
“He is now part of a matter where you are a witness.”
“What if we lose data?”
“We follow process.”
Evelyn hated process most when it was correct.
Then she did something that still belonged to her authority.
Harbor Point required a sealed court filing that week regarding the Briar evidence.
Evelyn urged the new acting prosecutor, Michael Reed, to seek an emergency order preserving all Vale Protective and Northbank Legal records relating to the drive.
Reed said:
“We have preservation letters.”
“Not enforceable enough.”
“Probable cause for full search?”
“Not yet.”
“Then no.”
Evelyn pushed.
Hard.
Finally Reed agreed to request a narrower preservation order.
The judge granted it.
Northbank Legal received notice.
Twenty-six minutes later, one of Northbank’s contractor accounts attempted mass deletion.
The system blocked most of it.
Not all.
Evelyn heard the news and felt vindicated for about ten seconds.
Then defense counsel filed an emergency complaint.
They argued the prosecution had used an attempted theft incident involving Evelyn personally to expand into defense litigation-support records without adequate separation.
The judge did not find prosecutorial misconduct.
But she did remove Evelyn from Harbor Point entirely until the disqualification motion could be resolved.
Evelyn sat in court while another prosecutor argued her case.
Her case.
That word finally sounded childish.
Outside, Mara said:
“You wanted preservation.”
“We needed it.”
“Yes.”
“And?”
“You were also willing to create appearance problems because you wanted to remain the person controlling the response.”
Evelyn looked away.
Mara continued.
“That is why you’re off it.”
Then Northbank identified the account behind the deletion attempt.
Not a lawyer.
Not Sloane.
A subcontracted defense investigator named Peter Doss.
Doss had retained Kestrel Advisory.
Doss admitted hiring Kestrel.
He denied ordering theft.
His written instruction:
Obtain independent verification of physical evidence carrier and transport integrity. No unlawful access.
Kestrel’s internal note converted that into:
Acquire device temporarily if feasible.
Then Sloane converted feasible into grabbing Evelyn’s bag.
Responsibility moved down the chain.
Again.
Doss still had problems.
He had paid Kestrel with defense-litigation funds.
Had asked for evidence serial numbers.
Had received confidential movement windows from somewhere.
Then his email archive produced one message.
Sender:
Nolan Price.
Not recent.
Eight months earlier.
Subject:
Outside Consulting
Price wrote:
If Northbank still needs former law-enforcement review on municipal contracting, I can do weekend work. Must stay away from active PIB matters.
Doss replied:
Understood. Different files only.
May you like
Nolan Price had a financial relationship with the contractor that eventually hired Derek Sloane.
And he had never disclosed it to the Public Integrity Bureau.
