“This is Valerie,” I said, holding the sealed plastic bag up to the daylight coming through the windshield.

“Charles just handed me something that’s prima facie evidence of witness tampering under state law.”

“Bring it straight to the precinct audio suite,” Miller said without hesitating.

“The audio technician just finished processing the outdoor microphone track from Mrs.

Higgins’s boundary system.”

“I’m on my way,” I said.

I put the sealed evidence bag in my locked briefcase, turned the key in the ignition, and pulled out of the garage into the afternoon light.

I zipped the clear plastic seal shut and drove straight to State Precinct 4 Headquarters on Bay Street.