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Chapter 162: The Earlier Copy
The archive team began examining the earlier backup shortly after eleven.Lucas and Helen were in the records investigation room when the forensic technician called to report that the source object had been located. The Legal Director joined them a few minutes later.“Have you confirmed that the file is recoverable?” Lucas asked.“Yes. The backup index contains the object under the source identifier found in the CV-118 manifest. We've created a forensic copy and verified it against the preservation record.”“Open it.”The technician turned his monitor toward them.A scanned page appeared. Unlike the damaged images recovered from CV-118, most of this one was readable. It carried the reference ER/77-D and a heading identifying it as a restricted succession instruction.Helen moved closer.“That's the document we've been trying to locate.”“It's an earlier scan associated with the same reference,” the Legal Director said. “The physical original remains missing.”Lucas read the first para
CHAPTER 161: The Recovered Fragment
The forensic room had been sealed since early morning.Lucas arrived shortly after ten, with Helen following behind him. A technician sat at the central workstation, reviewing the recovered CV-118 package. The Legal Director stood near the evidence cabinet, checking the preservation log.Two monitors displayed separate views of the recovered material. One showed the original backup structure; the other contained the verified forensic working copy.“Have you started examining the contents?” Lucas asked.“Only the working copy,” the technician replied. “The original backup remains untouched. We completed the hash verification, and the values match the preservation record.”“Any problems with the recovery?”“Several files were damaged. We've recovered the directory structure and some temporary objects, but parts of the package are incomplete.”Helen moved closer to the monitor.“Does it contain ER/77-D?”“One object carries that reference. There's also a routing-related image associated
CHAPTER 160: The Clearance Officer
Martin Cole arrived at 9:20 a.m., carrying a brown document folder under his arm.Lucas watched him through the glass partition as the receptionist checked his identification. Martin looked older than the photograph attached to his former employee record. His hair had thinned around the temples, and the skin beneath his eyes sagged slightly. He wore a grey jacket that appeared too large across the shoulders.Helen sat beside Lucas, reviewing the interview notes. The Legal Director had already taken his place at the opposite end of the table.When Martin entered, he greeted everyone and placed his folder on the table.“Thank you for coming,” the Legal Director said. “We need to discuss the clearance of the Deputy Director's office following his departure.”Martin pulled out a chair.“I was told it concerned the restricted cabinet.”“It does,” Lucas replied.Martin opened his folder but didn't remove anything yet.“I remember the clearance. It was part of the office handover process. I
CHAPTER 159: The Session Without A Name
The authentication history arrived shortly after ten the following morning.Helen was already in Lucas's office when the archive team sent the export. She checked the verification note, saved a copy to the investigation folder and opened the access report.“They've completed the forensic copy,” she said. “The original conversion folder and its available version history are preserved. This is the access record.”Lucas pulled his chair closer.The report contained the session reference, account identifier, workstation code, connection time and a list of recorded operations. Two days before the ER/77-D index entry was created, ES-RC-04 had accessed the conversion folder and requested its directory listing. There was no recorded event showing that an individual document had been opened.“Does that mean nobody opened the missing file?” Lucas asked.“No. It means this particular log doesn't show a document-opening event. The file may not have been present, or the system may not have capture
CHAPTER 158: The Envelope She Collected
Patricia Shaw arrived at nine fifteen the following morning.Helen saw her through the glass partition before the receptionist announced her. Patricia paused beside the reception desk to check her phone, then slipped it into her handbag and followed the receptionist down the corridor.Lucas stood as she entered.“Ms. Shaw. Thank you for coming.”Patricia acknowledged him with a nod. Her eyes moved to Helen, then to the Legal Director seated near the end of the table.“I was told this concerns the Deputy Director's old office.”“It does,” Lucas said. “And a restricted document identified as ER/77-D.”Patricia set her handbag beside her chair. “I remember the reference.”Lucas opened his notebook. “You remember the document itself?”“I remember collecting an envelope with that number on it. I couldn't tell you what was inside.”The Legal Director opened her notebook. “Let's establish your responsibilities during the office clearance first.”Patricia folded her hands. “I was the Deputy D
CHAPTER 157: The Requesting Account
The records liaison arrived twelve minutes before the scheduled interview.Lucas watched her enter the conference room with a slim laptop tucked under one arm. She introduced herself as Claire Bennett, a Corporate Administration records officer responsible for maintaining departmental indexes and processing routine custody updates.Helen sat opposite Lucas, with the Legal representative beside her. A copy of the electronic register amendment lay on the table.“Ms. Bennett, we're reviewing a change made to the restricted custody record for ER/77-D,” Lucas began. “Your account appears in the submission history.”Claire placed her laptop down.“I was told this concerned an old administrative adjustment.”“It does. The item was originally recorded under Executive Coordination. Three weeks after the Deputy Director left, the custodian field changed to Corporate Administration.”“I remember processing a custody adjustment around that period.”“Do you remember this particular one?”“Not clea
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