Maybe murder assistance.
But who killed Whitaker?
That remained.
Investigators found garage footage from night of murder.
Dark sedan.
Partial plate.
Northstar fleet vehicle.
Driver unclear.
Passenger exited.
Height approximately six feet.
Heavy build.
Blake fit.
Dorne fit.
Many people fit.
Phone locations:
Blake claimed home.
Personal phone there.
Burner off.
Dorne phone off.
Both plausible.
No murder weapon.
No direct witness.
Malik refused to let corruption evidence become murder assumption.
Claire agreed.
“Separate crimes.”
“Always.”
They interrogated Blake after prosecutors offered limited cooperation consideration.
His attorney allowed.
Blake sat across from Malik and Claire.
No uniform.
Plain shirt.
He looked smaller without armor.
Malik placed photograph of Whitaker on table.
Blake looked away.
“Did you kill him?”
“No.”
“Did Dorne?”
“I don't know.”
“Did you know he was going to die?”
Blake said nothing.
Claire leaned forward.
“That silence matters.”
Attorney interrupted.
“My client is considering.”
Blake whispered:
“I knew they wanted him scared.”
Malik's voice stayed low.
“Who is they?”
“Dorne.”
“And?”
Blake looked toward attorney.
Then:
“Someone else.”
There it was.
“Name.”
Blake swallowed.
“Chief Ramirez.”
Malik did not react.
Claire didn't either.
Inside, everything shifted.
Chief Miguel Ramirez.
Twenty-nine years law enforcement.
Respected.
Decorated.
Had authorized task-force cooperation.
Had been one of four people receiving bait information.
His version said “audit packet,” not homicide envelope.
He did not trigger trap.
Could still be involved.
Blake continued:
“Ramirez told us Whitaker was going to destroy the department.”
Claire asked:
“How?”
“Budget.”
“Contracts.”
“Cases.”
“He said if Whitaker exposed evidence problems, every defense attorney would reopen cases.”
“That could be true.”
“Yes.”
“Did Ramirez order evidence removed?”
Blake hesitated.
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Years ago.”
“Why?”
“Not for money at first.”
Malik leaned back.
Interesting.
Blake continued.
“Evidence storage was overflowing.”
“Some old narcotics were scheduled for destruction.”
“Northstar offered transport.”
“We cut corners.”
“Then one shipment disappeared.”
“What did Ramirez do?”
“Covered it.”
“And after covering one?”
Blake looked down.
“You cover next one easier.”
There.
Corruption rarely began with movie-villain plans.
It began with an exception.
Then paperwork.
Then another exception.
Then leverage.
Dorne discovered their vulnerability.
Offered money.
Blackmail.
Protection.
Blake continued:
“Ramirez took money eventually.”
“Did you?”
“Yes.”
“How much?”
“Maybe ninety.”
“Ninety thousand?”
“Yes.”