New Gods of North America.

Chapter 509 Legal
After Ms. Susan's subsequent confirmation and repeated searches, it was found that only "that" file was missing from the files Wayne wanted to check.

But Wayne still noticed the change in Ms. Susan's speed in searching. After thinking for a while, he pointed to the name beginning with the letter R and asked the archivist to confirm it:
"Miss Susan, please check again. Is there a missing file in the cabinet where this person's file is kept? The last name is most likely 'Robin'."

Ms. Susan went to look for it again with another record book in her arms, and soon came back with a look of surprise on her face, "How did you know? There is indeed a file missing with the name 'Arthur Robin'."

At the same time, she regained a little hope from her panic: "Mr. Wayne is indeed the detective mentioned in the newspapers. Can you help me find out where the files are now? The City Hall is very strict in this regard, and I don't want to lose my job because of this."

"I have already started looking, but this requires your cooperation, Miss Susan."

At this time, Wayne had already flipped through the summary list again, looking for the brief information of the name "Arthur Robin" on it. At the same time, he said the name of the leader caught by the detective agency and asked Ms. Susan to confirm it again.

The situation was similar afterwards. Wayne recorded brief information on the summary list, told Ms. Susan the new name, and then checked the previous records.

After several trips, he had a preliminary idea in his mind, and then began to confirm the workflow of reviewing files, as well as the situation of the previous few people who reviewed the lost file.

Finally, Wayne thought for a moment and said to Ms. Susan, "I already understand what happened. Don't worry, you probably won't lose your job because of this."

"really?"

Ms. Susan's surprise was mixed with a little uncertainty. "Do you already know where the files were taken?"

Wayne forced a smile. "Make a list of the names of the files that were found missing, and also record the name of the last person who viewed them. Then take the initiative to report to your superiors, and cooperate with the follow-up investigation, and everything should be fine. If you encounter any problems, you can ask someone to ask me, and I can prove it for you."

Ms. Susan nodded and listened, and quickly asked for the address and made a note on the note. "If it is really as you said, thank you very much."

Wayne took what he had recorded and prepared to leave after saying, "You're welcome. It's just a small favor."

Ms. Susan's voice came from behind, "Mr. Wayne, you haven't looked at these files that were just found."

Wayne waved his hand without even turning his head: "No need, please put them back."

……

After figuring it out, Wayne found that this little episode in City Hall was unexpectedly worthy of caution.

Wayne initially ruled out the possibility of collusion by Ms. Susan. After all, if there was something wrong with the file admin, she could have made her lies more convincing and her fraudulent methods more detailed.
For example, if one merely tampers with certain contents of a file, or separates and mixes similar materials, the file will still contain all the "genuine stuff", but the validity of the file will be almost completely lost, and it will be less likely to arouse suspicion than "file loss".

The last person who checked the missing persons file came this morning. His registration information on the summary list was clerk, and his address was the same as the office address left by the lawyer last night.

After he finished reviewing the files, the archivist confirmed their return.

Of course, it is also possible that the previous viewer used some method to confuse the archive administrator and then took the file away.
However, it was confirmed that the file of Arthur Robin, the "window prying master" caught by the detective agency, was also lost. That guy was not on the guest list of that high-end restaurant, and the previous person who checked his file had not checked it.

The files of several other prisoners were also lost. Wayne flipped through the records of reviewing and retrieving files and found that their files had actually been reviewed sporadically and mixed in several different records. Some of them Wayne had not paid attention to when he looked at them before.

So considering the worst possibility, Wayne is willing to believe the lawyer sent by the Beaton family. His investigative ideas are similar to Wayne's. They should have thought of the high-end restaurant first, and then sent people to filter out the key points from it. This is the investigative path of the "good guy", and it seems that he was "framed". However, when it is speculated here, the identity of the "bad guy" becomes very strange.
Someone had almost foreseen the missing "key target" files in advance, and then the "good guy" checked again, and the files were missing.

The bad guys who actually took the files were actually "invisible" and didn't even need to leave any records of checking or retrieving them. The file manager confirmed that the files were still there in the morning, but they were gone in the afternoon. It's very likely that they disappeared during the lunch break.

The previous access records may simply require the archivist to look through them first, so the bad guys can confirm the approximate storage location of the files and save time.

——Someone knew the "real names" of the prisoners in advance, and they also had a way to make their files disappear without anyone noticing.

Although the method is a bit crude, in the era of paper archives, this trick is really effective.
If no one conducts targeted investigation, something might disappear for decades without anyone knowing.

What’s scary is that the previous review records are still scattered, involving different reviewers, some of whom have not left signatures and are so-called “insiders”.

It seems that the detective agency has hit the "iceberg" this time...

It looks like only a little bit is exposed on the top, but there is actually a large piece underneath...

When Wayne thought of this, he slapped his thigh and asked, "Should I have taken a look at my own file at the same time?"
After all, if you can make the files disappear, then you can also make them return, and it would be even easier to tamper with the contents...

Then he quickly relaxed. His file should also be in Blackstone Town. He did not live in Richmond, so he did not need to register to vote. There should be nothing valuable in the file.

So it was more important to get down to business. Wayne knocked on the partition of the carriage and said to Sanders, "Let's go to the Beeton family's estate."

……

Mr. Basque was much more friendly to Wayne this time, and even shared with Wayne the black tea he had grown himself in the greenhouse (to be honest, the taste was very average).

He took the small note from Wayne, on which were the names of several suspicious readers:

"You said my young lawyer was framed? He might get sued?"

Wayne nodded. "Maybe the other party's actions are not directed at him, but there is such a possibility. After all, stealing the files of the city hall is a more serious crime than stealing a few stacks of cash. It is enough to prevent him from working for a period of time."

Then Wayne also asked in passing which departments' people could check the files at the city hall without signing.

Mr. Basque knew all about it: "Senior inspector or above in the police department, high-level officials in the city hall, and departments with authority in the federal or state governments. There are many possibilities. But why don't you just suspect Walter? He is suspected and fully capable of doing such a thing."

Because I don’t want to be used as a gun by others... If I just “sell bullets”, I won’t have to get involved in those causes and consequences, so as to avoid being caught by you to play chess with beasts.

However, Wayne now has no way to rule out the possibility raised by Mr. Basque. If the third-party force could really infiltrate so deeply, it would have become a key target similar to the "Church of Light".
The disadvantage of the American power-sharing system is that there are "mountains everywhere", but once someone tries to cross the line, they will be quickly discovered - people will always care more about the "territory" that truly belongs to them and will not give in easily.

Unless it already exists legally.

(End of this chapter)